Gilt metal medal of circular form and multi-part construction with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a red enamel flag with white and green enamel inward-pointing triangles around the edge, the Kádár-era arms of Hungary in gilt metal imposed centrally, imposed on crossed rifles, a ribbon above inscribed ‘A HAZA SZOLGÁLATÁÉRT’ (for service to the country), a circular laurel wreath below, the red, white and green flag of Hungary at the base; the reverse plain; on original trifold ribbon, the Kádár-era arms of Hungary in gilt on the lid. The medal was instituted in three classes in the immediate aftermath of suppression of the Hungarian uprising of 1956 for loyal service to the Hungarian Communist government. It was not awarded after 1965 as modest economic and political liberalisation was allowed, the medal being too closely associated with those who had suppressed the uprising. The red flag denotes the triumph of Communist rule; the triangles are used for Hungarian wartime flags. Some twenty years after the fall of Communism, there is growing interest in the awards of this era. Condition I.
