The Hungarian soldiers killed at river Don in World War II were publicly commemorated for the seventeenth time at the Memorial Chapel in Pákozd.

On behalf of the Minister of Defence the Administrative State Secretary Lajos Fodor gave a speech, describing the tragedy of the Hungarian Second Army. We commemorate the most tragic and senseless defeat of our history. The Unknown Soldier brought home and laid to rest at Don Bend Memorial Chapel in 1999 symbolizes the thousands of troops killed on the Russian steppes.
Lajos Fodor pointed out that the Soviet Forces overwhelming in number and equipment rapidly destroyed the Hungarian Second Army consisting of mainly ill-equipped and ill-trained units at river Don. No nation lost as much blood during World War II in such a short period of time.
The Administrative State Secretary added: the tragedy was inevitable, because in 1943 the fleeting Hungarian soldiers were destroyed not only by the Soviet troops but also the German indifference and the cold. They had to fight against a force overwhelming in number and equipment.
Lajos Fodor emphasized: there are Hungarian troops serving far from our homeland in our days, as well. The HDF leadership does his utmost to provide the training and equipment necessary for the soldiers to perform their duties.
Administrative State Secretary Lajos Fodor, Major General Zoltán Orosz, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Dr András Cser-Palkovics Mayor of Székesfehérvár, Zoltán Bobory, President of the Society of the Don Comrades and Tamás Varga, President of the General Assembly of Fejér County laid their wreaths at the plaque of Don Heroes.

Translated by Dóra Darnyik