Some 500 supporters of far-right organisations gathered in central Buda on Saturday to commemorate an attempt by German and Hungarian soldiers to break out of Buda Castle besieged by the Soviet Red Army on February 11, 1945.
The commemoration, dubbed the Day of Honour, was organised by Legio Hungaria and Hungarian Hammerskins. Some of the participants turned up wearing WW2 German or Hungarian uniforms, and were carrying the flags of far-right organisations, the red-and-white “Árpád” stripes and the national colours. Some foreign participants held up the flag of France’s Vichy government and the flag of the German Third Reich.
Photo by Tamás Kovács/MTI
Participants laid wreaths at a makeshift monument of a crucifix topped with a military helmet set up in the Városmajor park, while the Hungarian and German anthems were played.
Photo by Tamás Kovács/MTI
During the event, an estimated 500 anti-fascist activists, including members of the international Antifaschistische Aktion, held a counter-demonstration. They beat drums and blew whistles, while others chanted “Nazis go home”.
“Shame”. Photo by Tamás Kovács/MTI
Participants of the two demonstrations were separated by a steel fence and a line of police.
Featured photo by Tamás Kovács/MTI