Polish-Hungarian, One Blood

Mutual Aid Even After Seventy Years

Text: Levente Gyimóthy | Photo: Csaba Révész | 14:46 October 19, 2026

The HDF’s Székesfehérvár garrison also took part in the fourth edition of the “Polish-Hungarian, One Blood” national blood donation campaign, which commemorates the solidarity and assistance shown by Poland during the 1956 Revolution and Freedom Fight. At the event, 59 soldiers and defence employees donated blood, resulting in nearly 27 litres being collected. This amount could help save the lives of approximately 117 people.

Through directed blood donation, the participants could also help patients awaiting surgery to make a full recovery. Many of the blood donors have been regularly supporting this noble cause for many years. Comrades who attended the anniversary event were presented with commemorative certificates, including the soldier who had now donated blood for the fiftieth time to help others. Brigadier General Csaba Bodnár, commander of the HDF 51st Signal and Headquarters Support Brigade, also took part in the blood donation as a donor, reinforcing the importance of social responsibility through his personal example.

In addition to the personnel of the host brigade, the following organisations responded to the call: the HDF Defence Staff, the HDF Joint Operations Command, the HDF Special Operations Command, the Headquarters Multinational Division Centre (HQ MND-C), the NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU), the HDF 102nd CBRN Regiment, and the HDF 6th Territorial Defence Regiment.

Commemorating a historic act of solidarity

Seventy years ago, during the 1956 Revolution and Freedom Fight, the Hungarian Red Cross issued an international appeal for blood donations to treat the wounded. Poland was the first to respond to the appeal: some 11,000 Poles donated blood to help Hungarians, and the first consignment brought more than 800 litres of blood to Hungary.

The “Polish-Hungarian, One Blood” initiative preserves the memory of this historic collaboration; it was launched at the suggestion of Dr Tibor Gerencsér, Consul General, with the support of the Consulate General of Hungary in Kraków.

The event in Székesfehérvár was organised with the support of staff from the Székesfehérvár regional centre of the National Blood Transfusion Service and the Fejér County branch of the Hungarian Red Cross. The blood donation campaign will continue with further sessions throughout October.