Hausner Gábor - Kincses Katalin Mária - Veszprémy László szerk.: A Hadtörténeti Múzeum Értesítője. Acta Musei Militaris in Hungaria. 4. „Kard és koszorú”. Ezer év magyar uralmi és katonai jelképei. (Budapest, 2001)
KATONAI JELKÉPEK - MAKAI ÁGNES: Kitüntetések katonai jelképei
tetések szinte mindegyikén újszerű megfogalmazásban láthatjuk viszont az immár több évtizedes nemzeti katonai hagyománynak számító „farkasfogas" szalag számos változatát. 7 Habár ma újabb és újabb katonai jelképek teremtésére tág lehetőségek nyílnak, a nagymúltú koszorú és a kard változatlanul népszerű jelkép kitüntetéseinken. Ez a hagyományszeretet biztosíték talán arra, hogy a történelmünk egyik legsúlyosabb időszakában spontán módon kialakult nemzeti katonai jelképnek, a csapatzászlónak a jövőbeli katonai kitüntetéseken is helye lesz. MILITARY SYMBOLS OF DECORATIONS The world of orders and medals has always been a representative and distinguished field of national, as well as state and sovereign emblems in public opinion. This twofold symbolism is often visualised on decorations. There are, however, examples of national symbols having been eclipsed by political ones imposed by the state power. This phenomenon can be introduced through socialist decorations of our recent history. The most well-known branch of orders and medals is perhaps that of military decorations. These insignia represent a wide variety of symbols and their meaning. Three characteristic groups should be mentioned: state and sovereign, national and military symbols. The latter have two further branches, one of which is historical, internationally accepted and applied elements, like the laurel wreath stemming from the Roman Ages, or crossed swords; the other one includes the symbols characterising certain countries or nations. Such a unique Hungarian military emblem is the troop flag, trimmed with red, white and green triangles, thus representing the national colours. This symbol appeared on Hungarian decorations quite late, only after World War II, ornamenting the orders of the 1946-1949 period; then as a national emblem on socialist orders and badges of honour. This study analyses the military symbols of Hungarian history that had been displayed on diverse medals, in order of their historical appearance. It also examines the interesting symptom that emblems may become emblems of themselves in time, as former military decorations play a significant role in the symbolism of modern ages. Pictures that belong to the essay are to draw the reader's attention to the fact that decorations bear a historical, public and political meaning, and are characteristic products of the applied arts and metallurgy of their era, either with their execution rivalling jeweller)', or as mass-products lacking any beauty. 7 Lásd: Zeidler Sándor: Kitüntetések a Magyar Köztársaságban. Budapest, 1995. 30-35.
