Workers' Militia

The Workers' Militia (Hungarian: Munkásőrség) was a paramilitary organization in the Hungarian People's Republic from 1956 to 1989.

This article is about the Hungarian paramilitary organization. For the Polish paramilitary organization, see Workers' Militia PPS-WRN.
Workers' Militia
Munkásőrség (Hungarian)
Insignia of the Workers' Militia

Armband of the Workers' Militia
Organization overview
Formed18 February 1957
Dissolved31 October 1989
TypeParamilitary
Jurisdiction Hungarian People's Republic
Organization executive
Parent organization Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party

History

Pre-1956
Slate grey clad Hungarian workers' guards and their PPSh-41 sub-machine guns. With a lightweight, fold-up shoulder strap, it was made in Hungary for a version of the Armed Forces ("Armed Forces"). This basic weapon was used by the Workers' Guard until the early 1970s.

Similar worker-guard organizations existed before 1956 in various socialist countries, partly to the circumvent closing of the Second World War peace treaties (such as the German Democratic Republic's Kampfgruppe squads), in part to provide more actionable, non-regular "popular" groups than the armed forces (such as the Lidové Milice of Czechoslovakia).

Formation

Following the quelled Hungarian Revolution of 1956, the Revolutionary Workers'-Peasants' Government ordered on February 18, 1957 the formation of the Workers' Militia. It replaced the revolutionary regime's special police force (karhatalom or also known as pufajkások, named after their Soviet-style quilted jackets). The slate-grey uniformed and armed Militia's aim was to defend the means of production. It was a voluntary service, but obviously offered some career advantages. Starting with 20,000 members, it gradually developed into a large armed force (60,000 strong in 1988[1]), although they were never deployed.

The first commander of the organization was Lajos Halas (1957–1962), followed by Árpád Papp (1962–1970), then lastly Sándor Borbély (1970–1989).

On October 31, 1989, a referendum was held with the question: "Should the Workers' Militia be disbanded?". The answer was an overwhelming Yes (94.9%), a result which confirmed the previously-adopted law (1989 XXXth).

Ranks

Body position markings
Insignia
Title Főrevizor Főügyeletes Főügyeletes-helyettes Kapuügyeletes Csoportvezető Szolgálatvezető Törzscsoport munkatárs Törzscsoport közvetlen állomány Egységtörzs munkatárs I. Egységtörzs munkatárs II. Egységtörzs munkatárs III. Egységtörzs állomány Beosztott állomány
English Controller The main on call Principal deputy on duty Gate duty Group leader Service Director Core group associate Strain group direct stock Unit Staff Fellow I Unit Staff Fellow II Unit Staff Fellow III Unit stock Subordinate staff

Command position markings
Insignia
Title Országos parancsnok Országos parancsnok-helyettes Parancsnok Parancsnok-helyettes Csoportvezető főtiszt Egységparancsnok Egységparancsnok-helyettes Szolgálatvezető Beosztott századparancsnok-helyettes Század szolgálatvezető Szakaszparancsnok Szakaszparancsnok-helyettes Rajparancsnok Beosztott munkásőr állomány
English National Commander Deputy National Commander Commander Deputy Commander Group Chief Officer Unit Commander Deputy Unit Commander Service Director Deputy Commander in Chief Century Chief of Staff Platoon Commander Deputy Section Commander Squad Leader Subordinate worker guard

See also

Similar formations:

References
  1. "Hungary - Workers' Guard". www.country-data.com. Retrieved 2018-01-09.


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