Hungarian Labor Battalions, 1940-1943 | Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust

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Collection Overview

Title: Hungarian Labor Battalions, 1940-1943

Predominant Dates:1940 -- 1945

ID: RG-10/RG-10

Primary Creator: Vadasz, Frank

Other Creators: Hungarian Military Labor Servicemen and Relatives

Extent: 0.0

Arrangement:

The arrangement scheme for the record group was imposed during processing in the absence of an original order. Materials are arranged by identifier, as assigned by the processor.

Record group is described to item-level, and is comprised of thirty-four items.

Subjects: Hungarian-annexed territories, Hungarian labor battalions, Hungarian military labor service for Jews, Jewish forced labor in Hungarian labor battalions, wartime photographs

Languages: Hungarian, German

Abstract

This is a collection of photo-documents depicting forced labor in Hungarian labor battalions and companies. Jews from Hungary and Hungarian-annexed territories were drafte into these units. They served in Hungary, Hungarian-annexed territories and in the Eastern Front.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This record group, also known as the Frank Vadasz collection, includes photo-documents and artifacts depicting the daily life in the Hungarian forced labor service, commonly known as labor battalions. The artifacts are represented by armbands and labor company sign, both believed to be authentic. The photographs in this record group are copies of the originals taken by the Jewish labor servicemen and Hungarian soldiers during the service in Hungarian army.

Materials in this record group include photographs and artifacts. Materials are digitized.

Collection Historical Note

Before mass deportation of the Jewish population from Hungary and Hungarian-annexed territories, the Hungarian government passed the law making service in the labor battalions and companies mandatory for Jewish male. They wore Hungarian military uniform without rank insignias and had no right to carry arms. Hungarian commissioned officers were in charge of these labor units.

Biographical Note

Frank Vadasz, a photographer, was conscripted into the Hungarian Military Labor Service in 1940. During 1940-1942, his company was stationed in Chust or Huszt (Subcarpathian Rus), Sarospatak (Northern Hungary), and Petarda (a territory annexed from Yugoslavia).

Subject/Index Terms

Hungarian-annexed territories
Hungarian labor battalions
Hungarian military labor service for Jews
Jewish forced labor in Hungarian labor battalions
wartime photographs

Administrative Information

Repository: Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust

Access Restrictions: No restrictions

Use Restrictions:

Copyrighted materials, credits to and references to the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust are required

Digital copies might be available upon request

Preferred Citation: RG-10, Hungarian Labor Battalions. Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust Archive.

Processing Information: Materials are primarily described using the local descriptive standards of the LA Museum of the Holocaust.

Box and Folder Listing

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 17: RG-10.01.16, Dismantling of a Bunker, Petarda, 1941

A photograph depicting five Jewish forced laborers dismantling a bunker

Subject/Index Terms:: Forced labor, Hungarian labor companies; Hungarian labor battalions; wartime photographs; Forced labor

Creators:: Vadasz, Frank