Functional Predecessors of the Special Forces in Hungarian Military History

Abstract

In Hungary special operations tasks are carried out by the HDF 2nd „vitéz Bertalan Árpád” Special Operation Forces Brigade. A quick skim of the regiment’s history reveals the predecessor organisations out of which the regiment was formed. By introducing the historic origins the author attempts to answer the question whether there has been a regular unit in the Hungarian military history that, in reference to its tasks, shows similarity with special operation forces. For this the author takes as foundation the tasks listed in the Special Operations Forces Doctrine of the HDF and proves the paralel that exists betweeen soldiers of a past age and of an elite military unit of the present.