Szent László Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The Szent László Infantry Division was an elite Hungarian
infantry
unit formed in the final year of World War II
. It was made up of a mix of army and air force personnel. The division saw action at Budapest
, in western Hungary, and in southeastern Austria
.
. The units engaged suffered heavy losses during the fighting in Hungary.
The unit did not fight as a division until April, 1945. By then, it had received manpower from several other divisions to cover its earlier losses.
The division continued to fight in northern Croatia
and southern Austria until the end of the war. At that point, the division crossed the Carnic Alps
and entered Carinthia
where it surrendered to British forces.
The personnel of the Szent László Infantry Division were allowed to keep their weapons until discussions between the British and Yugoslavs partisans were settled. Subsequently, the division's remaining personnel were transferred to the regular prisoner of war camps in Germany
and Austria.
The Szent László Infantry Division was named for Saint Laszlo (also known as Ladislaus). Saint Laszlo was the King of Hungary
from 1077 to 1095 and he was also the patron saint of military men and exiles.
Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946)
The Kingdom of Hungary also known as the Regency, existed from 1920 to 1946 and was a de facto country under Regent Miklós Horthy. Horthy officially represented the abdicated Hungarian monarchy of Charles IV, Apostolic King of Hungary...
infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
unit formed in the final year of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was made up of a mix of army and air force personnel. The division saw action at Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, in western Hungary, and in southeastern Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
.
Unit History
In October 1944, the Szent László Infantry Division was formed. Elements of the division saw action for the first time on 19 December when they were used as emergency troops to plug gaps in the front. This was just before the Battle of BudapestBattle of Budapest
The Siege of Budapest centered on the Hungarian capital city of Budapest. It was fought towards the end of World War II in Europe, during the Soviet Budapest Offensive. The siege started when Budapest, defended by Hungarian and German troops, was first encircled on 29 December 1944 by the Red Army...
. The units engaged suffered heavy losses during the fighting in Hungary.
The unit did not fight as a division until April, 1945. By then, it had received manpower from several other divisions to cover its earlier losses.
The division continued to fight in northern Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
and southern Austria until the end of the war. At that point, the division crossed the Carnic Alps
Carnic Alps
The Carnic Alps are a range of the Southern Limestone Alps in East Tyrol, Carinthia, South Tyrol and Friuli . They extend from east to west for about between the Gail River, a tributary of the Drava and the Tagliamento, forming the border between Austria and Italy.They are named after the Roman...
and entered Carinthia
Carinthia (state)
Carinthia is the southernmost Austrian state or Land. Situated within the Eastern Alps it is chiefly noted for its mountains and lakes.The main language is German. Its regional dialects belong to the Southern Austro-Bavarian group...
where it surrendered to British forces.
The personnel of the Szent László Infantry Division were allowed to keep their weapons until discussions between the British and Yugoslavs partisans were settled. Subsequently, the division's remaining personnel were transferred to the regular prisoner of war camps in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Austria.
The Szent László Infantry Division was named for Saint Laszlo (also known as Ladislaus). Saint Laszlo was the King of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
from 1077 to 1095 and he was also the patron saint of military men and exiles.
Commanders
- Brigadier-General Vitéz Szügyi ZoltánVitéz Szügyi ZoltánVitéz Zoltán Szügyi was a Hungarian Officer during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
(born 1896; died 1963) - 12 October 1944 to 8 May 1945
Sources
- Niehorster, Leo W. G. - The Royal Hungarian Army 1920–1945, 313 pages, ISBN 1-891227-19-X