On 23 March 2023, a funeral service was held at the Basilica of the Holy Trinity in Kobyłka near Warsaw for three soldiers of the Hungarian Army who fell in combat against the Red Army in 1944. The ceremony was attended by the Deputy President of the Institute of National Remembrance, Prof. Karol Polejowski, and Hungarian Ambassador to Poland, Her Excellency Orsolya Zsuzsanna Kovács. The event was organized by the IPN Office for Commemorating the Struggle and Martyrdom.
The exhumation works were carried out on 30 August 2021 by a professional archaeological company specializing in war graves, assisted by the Director of the IPN Office for Commemorating the Struggle and Martyrdom Adam Siwek and two Hungarian Army officers. The remains were located about 1.5 meters from the cross near field fortifications. Based on the analysis, the soldiers were killed after artillery shells had struck their mortar post. A relic of a mortar grenade tray and a Mannlicher rifle were found on the spot. It was determined that the remains belonged to soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division of the 2nd Reserve Corps of the Hungarian Army, who fell in combat against the Red Army on 9—10 September 1944.
The 1st Cavalry Division was assigned to the IV SS Panzer Corps to defend Warsaw against the Soviets on 20 August 1944. They were involved in heavy fighting around Warsaw until 23 September when they left Poland to return to Hungary.
The Law on War Graves and Cemeteries ensures the right to a grave for every fallen soldier. The IPN also fulfills the obligations of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of the Republic of Hungary on the graves and memorials of soldiers and civilian victims of war.
The Polish state is fulfilling its duty to bury those who fell on Polish soil regardless of the ranks in which they served. We also fulfill the Christian duty to bury three Hungarian soldiers in consecrated place, said Prof. Karol Polejowski
The IPN has cooperated with Hungarian institutions on many fields. Our joint initiatives include academic conferences, publications, exhibitions, celebrations of important anniversaries and care for memorials.