“A lot of debates are taking place these days, but there is a cause that provides a common ground, namely defence of the homeland”, Minister of Defence István Simicskó pointed out at the central ceremony of the Ministry of Defence held on the occasion of the Day of the Hungarian Defence Forces on Friday, 20 May.
István Simicskó told his audience that home defence is not only a military challenge, because the civil society must also be given a knowledge of national defence that enables Hungarian citizens to consider defence of the homeland important in their value system as well as their way of life and thinking.
The minister underlined that the Day of the Hungarian Defence Forces – to be held to mark the anniversary of the recapture of Buda Castle on 21 May – is a good occasion for expressing their respect and honor to all those who have been the best and most excellent ones in the recent period. István Simicskó noted that this year the Day of the Hungarian Defence Forces is different from the earlier ones, because over the last period, our soldiers have literally had to protect the borders of the country and are currently helping the police forces to perform border policing duties.
At the Friday ceremony of the Ministry of Defence, several participants received awards for their outstanding performance for the cause of national defence in the recent period, and also for their dedicated service in the crisis situation caused by mass migration. Among the awardees were Director-General of the Counter Terrorism Centre János Hajdu, Director-General of the Hungarian Prison Service András Csóti and Commanding Officer of the MoD Institute and Museum of Military History Vilmos Kovács.
The minister of defence also noted that there are many disrespect-based communities and civilizations around the world. In connection with that, while referring to the National Country Run that ended on Friday morning, he said that events like this are important because they also contribute to strengthening the Hungarian Defence Forces’ image as an institution fostering the culture of respect, and show that the soldiers serve the Hungarian people’s security and our children’s future.
István Simicskó emphasized that we need to prepare for responding to new types of security challenges such as mass migration or forms of hybrid warfare in seeming peacetime. “In dealing with these, international cooperation is important, especially our participation in NATO”, the minister said, adding that the ministry is planning to develop a new military doctrine and a new security strategy as well.
After a three-week siege, at the end of the Spring Campaign, the Hungarian troops managed to recapture Buda Castle on 21 May 1849. In memory of this victory, 21 May has been the Day of the Hungarian Defence Forces since 1992.
Commemorative events were held at several places to mark the Day of Hungarian Defence. On Saturday, 21 May Parliamentary State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Tamás Vargha delivered a speech and laid a wreath by the Hungarian soldiers’ memorial in Dísz Square in the Buda Castle District. Another wreath-laying ceremony took place on Fehérvári Rondella (round bastion) at the statue to Artúr Görgey, and an ecumenical service was held in the Lutheran Church of Budavár to mark the centenary of Görgey’s death. Afterwards, in early afternoon, a wreath-laying ceremony took place by General Arthur Görgey’s grave in the National Graveyard on Fiume Road.
Also on the Day of the Hungarian Defence Forces, the MoD Institute and Museum of Military History held a family day from midday to 6’o clock p.m. The program of the day featured WWI re-enactors, displays of life on the front and in the camps, handicraft workshops, guided tours of exhibitions and pieces of military technology on view.