PHOTOS: Buried documents of Hungarian hussars discovered in Austria after 80 years
A remarkable discovery has recently shed new light on a little-known chapter of Hungarian military history. After eight decades, the long-lost documents of the 1st Hungarian Hussar Division have been unearthed in Austria, potentially answering many lingering questions from the final days of World War II. The find was made by István Szebenyi, a civilian military historian previously known for uncovering key evidence in infamous Hungarian criminal cases, including the Mór massacre.
The search begins
Szebenyi’s involvement began through his publishing work with the late Mária Wittner, a well-known figure in Hungarian history. Through this connection, he met Mária Bánó-Simon, who was seeking clarity about her father’s mysterious death in 1945. According to Telex, her father, a staff major, was said to have committed suicide in the Vértes Mountains, but new evidence suggested otherwise.
While this personal quest was a side story, it led Szebenyi to a crucial letter from the 1970s, written by Zoltán Bánó-Kacskovics, a clerk of the 1st Hussar Division. The letter described how division documents were buried in a chest near an Austrian castle, though the exact location was vague—only mentioning fallow deers and a tree as clues.
Uncovering the past
According to the report, identifying the castle and town took nearly two years. Based on recollections and historical research, Szebenyi determined that the likely site was Salaberg Castle in Haag, Lower Austria, which had served as the division’s last headquarters. After securing the necessary permits and informing the Hungarian Minister of Defence (who promised diplomatic assistance if needed), Szebenyi and his team began their search in the castle’s vast 40-hectare park, now partly a zoo.
By narrowing down the area to two hectares using historical descriptions, Szebenyi and his team managed to locate the buried chest after just half an hour of searching—a stroke of luck he compared to winning the lottery. Remarkably, the area was undisturbed, and even the deer still grazed nearby, as described decades earlier.
The chest and its contents
The chest, originally a metal-lined cooking box from the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy era, had been obtained by the hussars from Polish partisans. Although its wooden exterior was decaying and the lid had collapsed, the documents inside were largely intact after 80 years underground. After careful excavation, the papers were transferred to a secure plastic container.
Historical significance and next steps
Szebenyi believes the contents of the chest are invaluable, as no other records from 1941 onward survive. The documents may include daily reports, maps, ammunition inventories, casualty lists, and burial locations—information crucial for historians and families seeking closure about lost relatives.
The chest and its contents will be temporarily housed in the Austrian State Archives for restoration. However, Austrian authorities are expected to return the documents to Hungary, where they will be thoroughly analysed and preserved for posterity.
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