Hungarian Youth Group Uniforms

Figure 1.--This is a Hungarian Boy Scout, probably about 1930.

We do not yet have much information about Hungarian youth movements. Wandervogel may have existed before Workd war I, but that was a largely German youth movemnent. The Scouting movement was founded in Hungary before World War I. We believe that before World war II that it was the country's principal youth movement, but did not have a large membership. We are ubnsure about Fascist youth groups before and during World war II. After World War II we believe the Communist Government banned Scouting, although we do not have details at this time. The Communist founded the Young Pioneeer movement which was similar to the movement in other Soviet Eastern European satellites. The movement disappeared with the fall of the Communist Government.

Wandervogel

Wandervogel may have existed before Workd War I, but that was a largely German youth movemnent.

Scouting

The Scouting movement was founded in Hungary before World War I while Hungary was still part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Scouting movement grew considerably after independence. We believe that before World War II, Scouting was the country's principal youth movement. The membership, however, was still fauirly limited as it was basically a middle-class movement. After World War II we believe the Communist Government banned Scouting, although we do not have details at this time. Scouting has been revived in the 1990s with the return to democratic government.

Hashomer Hatzair

Hashomer Hatzair (Youth Gurd) was a Jewish youth movement created by the union of the merger of two groups, Hashomer ("The Guard") a Zionist scouting group, and Ze'irei Zion ("The Youth of Zion") which was a smaller politically oriented group focused on Zionism and left wing socialism. It was founded in Galicia, then a part of the Austro Hungarian Empire, just before World War I (1913). Hashomer Hatzair is the oldest Zionist youth movement which still functions. The group was initially oriented toward Marxist-Zionist. A strong component of the European Zionist movement cane from left-wing Jews. Ber Borochov and Gustav Wyneken strongly influenced the movement. Hashomer Hatzair was commited to aliya (emigration to Palestine). The movement strongly supported kibbutzim. After World War I, the movement spread to Jewish communities throughout Europe as part of the Scouting movement.

Nationalist Groups

We are ubnsure about Fascist youth groups before and during World war II. Hungary had a right-wing Fascist organization and the country joined the AXIS in World War II. We have no, information, however on youth groups.

Young Pioneers

The Communist founded the Young Pioneeer movement which was similar to the movement in other Soviet Eastern European satellites. The movement disappeared with the fall of the Communist Government.

Xenia-Laz

Xenia-Laz is a new youth movement or club in modern Hungary. It was founded in 1996. The group grew out of an interest in a popular 160-episode sci-fi television series titles "Urgamma". It is a sensation in Hungary. One report indicates, "There's probably not a school child in Hungary who doesn't know the name Xenia-Laz or Xenia Fever -- a new club for teenagers which brings together fast food, pop music and the teaching of science in schools. Only two years old, its membership has already eclipsed that of the Boy Scouts and of Young Pioneers, the childrens' organisation of the former Communist Party." Xenia-Laz promotes its teenage members to persue science and math courses. It does not have facilities of its own so meetings are held in fast-food restaurants. National meetings are being held in sports stadia. Some politicins are promoting the movement. Some observers charge that criminal elements are becoming involved. [Thorpe]

Sources

Thorpe, Nick. "Despatches: Budapest" BBC News (January 21, 1998).