Ferenc Bálint
Contact: balint.ferenc@mail.militaria.hu
Military colours and standards have always been respected and guarded by soldiers since the earliest times, and therefore this group of artefact forms a separate collection in the Museum. The foundations of the Collection of Banners and Flags were laid down between the two World Wars. The majority of items were acquired through official transfers, but unique relics have been obtained through donation or purchase too. Currently, the Collection numbers nearly 3,500 artefacts including more than 800 complete banners in addition to a large number of streamers, fragments of banners and various accessories. Although specialised in Hungarian artefacts by its nature, the Collection preserves several foreign flags as well. The military flags of former socialist countries of the Eastern Bloc prevail, but one of the oldest foreign banners is that of the Garde National de Cantalupa (National Guard of Cantalupa).