It is important for the Hungarian Armed Forces to preserve the memory of military heroes.
The II. The life journey of András Toma, who returned home as the last Hungarian prisoner of war during World War II.
The man spent almost 53 years in the Kotyelnyc psychiatric institute in Russia, from where he was brought home to Hungary on August 11, 2000, as a result of lengthy research.
His story was covered by the domestic and international press: his return home was reported in 137 countries. Several books and a documentary have been made about his life, which can be read on the Facebook page of the MH Military Administration and Central Registry Command.
András Toma, registered in Russian documents as András Tamás, was born on December 5, 1925 in Újfehértó. He lived in Sulyánbokor, near Nyíregyháza, when he was drafted into the first Hungarian army at the age of 19. He was taken prisoner of war near Auschwitz and Kraków in Poland at the beginning of 1945.
He was first sent to the Bogszitogorsk POW camp near St. Petersburg, and from there he was transported to Bisztriag, 1,500 kilometers away.
In January 1947, due to his deteriorating health amid the inhumane conditions, András Toma was referred to the Kotyelnyc psychiatric hospital in Tatarstan, where he lived for 53 years.
In July 2000, neurologist András Veér examined the patient in a mental institution in Russia and found that he was undoubtedly Hungarian.
He was brought home to Hungary on August 11, 2000, promoted to sergeant major, and for his 56 years of service, he received a HUF three million reward from the head of the Ministry of National Defense at the time.
In the old-new home of the old man, he lived with the family of his sister, Toma Anna Gabulyáné. András Toma died 20 years ago this year, on March 30, 2004.
It is important for the Hungarian Armed Forces to preserve the memory of military heroes. That's why the local recruiting office of the MH Military Administration and Central Registry Command initiated that András Toma's life journey and memory be included in the Nyíregyháza settlement treasure. The Nyíregyház Settlement Treasures Committee - whose task is to find, document, systematize and publicize the national values of the county seat - supported the initiative of the recruiting office, making the extraordinary story of András Toma, and through it the life journey of other Hungarian prisoners of war like him, available to even more people.
Cover image: The last Hungarian prisoner of war died on March 30, 2004
Source: Facebook/MH Military Administration and Central Registry Command
