Pre-1956

Slate grey clad Hungarian workers' guards and their PPSh-41 sub-machine guns. With a lightweight, fold-up shoulder strap, it was made in Hungary for a version of the Armed Forces ("Armed Forces"). This basic weapon was used by the Workers' Guard until the early 1970s.

Similar worker-guard organizations existed before 1957 in various socialist countries, partly to the circumvent closing of World War II peace treaties (such as the Kampfgruppe squads of East Germany), in part to provide more actionable, non-regular "popular" groups than the armed forces (such as the Lidové Milice of Czechoslovakia).

Formation

Following the quelled Hungarian Revolution of 1956, the Revolutionary Workers'-Peasants' Government ordered on February 18, 1957, the formation of the Workers' Militia. It replaced the revolutionary regime's special police force (karhatalom or also known as pufajkások, named after their Soviet-style quilted jackets). The slate gray uniformed and armed Militia's aim was to defend the means of production. It was a voluntary service, but obviously offered some career advantages. Starting with 20,000 members, it gradually developed into a large armed force (60,000 strong in 1988),^[1] although they were never deployed.

The commanders of the organization were:

• Lajos Halas (1957–1962)
• Árpád Papp (1962–1970)
• Sándor Borbély (1970–1989)

On May 8, 1985, the Central Committee of the MSZMP relinquished its direct control of the body, and on June 15, a Council of Ministers took over the supervision and control of the Workers' Militia. The Workers' Militia retained its paramilitary focus until the change of regime in Hungary, at the end of 1989.^[2]

Disbandment

On November 26, 1989, a referendum was held with the question: "Should the Workers' Militia be disbanded?". The answer was an overwhelming Yes (94.9%), a result which confirmed the previously adopted law (1989 XXXth).

Staff position markings

Insignia
Title	Főrevizor	Főügyeletes	Főügyeletes-helyettes	Kapuügyeletes	Csoportvezető	Szolgálatvezető	Törzscsoport munkatárs	Törzscsoport közvetlen állomány	Egységtörzs munkatárs I.	Egységtörzs munkatárs II.	Egységtörzs munkatárs III.	Egységtörzs állomány	Beosztott állomány
English	Controller	Chief duty officer	Principal deputy on duty	Gate duty	Group leader	Service Director	Core group associate	Staff subordinated to the core group	Unit Staff Fellow I	Unit Staff Fellow II	Unit Staff Fellow III	Unit stock	Subordinate staff

Command position markings

Insignia
Title	Országos parancsnok	Országos parancsnok-helyettes	Parancsnok	Parancsnok-helyettes	Csoportvezető főtiszt	Egységparancsnok	Egységparancsnok-helyettes	Szolgálatvezető	Beosztott századparancsnok-helyettes	Század szolgálatvezető	Szakaszparancsnok	Szakaszparancsnok-helyettes	Rajparancsnok	Beosztott munkásőr állomány
English	National Commander	Deputy National Commander	Commander	Deputy Commander	Group Chief Officer	Unit Commander	Deputy Unit Commander	Service Director	Deputy company commander	Company Chief of Staff	Platoon Commander	Deputy Section Commander	Squad Leader	Subordinate worker guard