It is not a favorite day, a simple day of commemoration, the Hungarians celebrate their army. The Hungarian National Defense Day and Hungarian Heroes Commemoration Day (Magyar Honvédelem Napja és a Magyar Hősök Emléknapja), the occasion to distribute medals, ranks, and promotions during ceremonies accompanied by patriotic speeches.
Between the wars, Defense Day (Honvédnapi Nap) was celebrated on June 28 (signing of the 1919 peace treaty by the Germans), but Hungary also celebrated the heroes of the Great War on the last Sunday of May. In 1951, the communist regime adopted September 29, the anniversary of the battle of Pákozd in 1848, establishing a People’s Army Day that no longer referred to heroes. In 1992, the new regime moved this day to May 21, in memory of the battle of Buda in 1849. On this day, the national defense army, commanded by General Arthur Görgey, recaptured the capital from the troops of Austrian General Hentzi.
May 21 refers to one of the main successes of the war of independence, the reconquest of Buda Castle, occupied by the troops of Austrian Imperial General Hentzi, by the national defense army of General Artúr Görgei on May 21, 1849, after a three-week siege. This siege was part of the spring campaign of the Hungarian revolution of 1848-1849. The battle ended with the victory of the Hungarian troops.
The Hungarian Defense Forces consist of two branches: the Army and the Air Force. Compulsory conscription was abolished in 2004, marking the transition to a professional army. The President of Hungary is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, while the Ministry of Defense exercises political and civilian control over the army.
An article from the International Almanac of BiblioMonde Editions, May 21, 2026
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