Workers' Militia
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Munkásőrség (Hungarian) | |
![]() Insignia of the Workers' Militia | |
![]() Armband of the Workers' Militia | |
Organization overview | |
---|---|
Formed | 18 February 1957 |
Dissolved | 31 October 1989 |
Type | Paramilitary |
Jurisdiction | ![]() |
Organization executive | |
Parent organization | Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party |
The Workers' Militia (Munkásőrség) was a paramilitary organization in the Hungarian People's Republic from 1956 to 1989.
History
Pre-1956
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/PPS-41_fortepan_87601.jpg/220px-PPS-41_fortepan_87601.jpg)
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 November 26, 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
Staff position markings
Command position markings
See also
Similar formations:
- State Defense Forces
- Territorial Army (United Kingdom)
- United States National Guard
- Territorial Defense Force
- People's Militias
- Combat Groups of the Working Class
- ORMO
- Patriotic Guards
- Worker-Peasant Red Guards
References
- ^ "Hungary - Workers' Guard". www.country-data.com. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- 1957 establishments in Hungary
- 1989 disestablishments in Hungary
- Communism in Hungary
- Paramilitary organisations based in Hungary
- Government paramilitary forces
- Hungarian People's Republic
- Hungarian Revolution of 1956
- Law enforcement in communist states
- Military wings of communist parties
- Hungarian history stubs