Levente (organization)
Encyclopedia
Levente Associations or simply "levente" were paramilitary
youth organizations in Hungary
in the interwar period
and during the Second World War. It was established in 1921 with the declared purpose of physical and health training. Since mid-1930s they have de-facto become an attempt to circumvent the ban for conscription
imposed by the Treaty of Trianon and over the time it had openly become a pre-military organization under the leadership of veteran
s.Since 1939, by the Act of Defense, all boys of ages 12-21 were required to take part in levente.
It is usually compared to Hitler Jugend of Nazi Germany
and Opera Nazionale Balilla
of Italy
. While having a common trait of military training with the latter two, levente was neither openly fascist nor particularly politicized, although it was not isolated of political influences of the time.
Levente had also a smaller female branch, initiated as a voluntary association in June 1942. Under the rule of Ferenc Szálasi
installed by Nazis in Hungary in October 1944 obligatory levente duties were imposed unto girls of ages 12-19 despite the strong opposition of the Catholic Church. However the latter was not actually implemented because of the advance of the Soviet Army
.
By the end of World War II Levente members had to actually serve in auxiliary forces.
During the Soviet occupation many levente activists were tried by Soviet tribunals, convicted of "anti-Soviet activities" and deported to the Soviet Union for penal labor
.
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
youth organizations in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
in the interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
and during the Second World War. It was established in 1921 with the declared purpose of physical and health training. Since mid-1930s they have de-facto become an attempt to circumvent the ban for conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
imposed by the Treaty of Trianon and over the time it had openly become a pre-military organization under the leadership of veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
s.Since 1939, by the Act of Defense, all boys of ages 12-21 were required to take part in levente.
It is usually compared to Hitler Jugend of Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
and Opera Nazionale Balilla
Opera Nazionale Balilla
thumb|240px|A young balilla in [[Piazza Venezia]].Opera Nazionale Balilla was an Italian Fascist youth organization functioning, as an addition to school education, between 1926 and 1937 .It was named after Balilla, the moniker of Giovan Battista Perasso,...
of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. While having a common trait of military training with the latter two, levente was neither openly fascist nor particularly politicized, although it was not isolated of political influences of the time.
Levente had also a smaller female branch, initiated as a voluntary association in June 1942. Under the rule of Ferenc Szálasi
Ferenc Szálasi
Ferenc Szálasi was the leader of the National Socialist Arrow Cross Party – Hungarist Movement, the "Leader of the Nation" , being both Head of State and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Hungary's "Government of National Unity" for the final three months of Hungary's participation in World War II...
installed by Nazis in Hungary in October 1944 obligatory levente duties were imposed unto girls of ages 12-19 despite the strong opposition of the Catholic Church. However the latter was not actually implemented because of the advance of the Soviet Army
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
.
By the end of World War II Levente members had to actually serve in auxiliary forces.
During the Soviet occupation many levente activists were tried by Soviet tribunals, convicted of "anti-Soviet activities" and deported to the Soviet Union for penal labor
Forced labor of Hungarians in the Soviet Union
The topic of forced labor of Hungarians in the Soviet Union in the aftermath of the World War II was not researched until the fall of Communism and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. While exact numbers are not known, it is estimated that up to 600,000 Hungarians were captured altogether,...
.
See also
- Deutsche Jugend, a youth organization of ethnic GermanEthnic GermanEthnic Germans historically also ), also collectively referred to as the German diaspora, refers to people who are of German ethnicity. Many are not born in Europe or in the modern-day state of Germany or hold German citizenship...
s in Hungary - Nationale Jeugdstorm (NJS), a Dutch far right youth group of World War II times http://histclo.com/youth/youth/org/nat/neth/nn-nj.htm