The moment of shattering joy

“His return home after 70 years from such a distant foreign land, which closes a painful and long-open-ended story in such a worthy way, is not only a gift to his family but also a pride of the whole nation” – said Lieutenant Colonel László Nánai, Evangelical Chaplain of the MoD Protestant Military Bishopric at the reception of the mortal remains, which was attended by Colonel Dr. László Töll, Ministerial Commissioner for Military Identity, Lieutenant Colonel Roland Maruzs, Acting Commander, MoD Institute and Museum of Military History and the family members, among them Ferdinand von Herold Duarte, the great-grandson of the General Captain.

The towering figure of 20th century Hungarian naval and riverine warship history devoted his whole life to Hungary. He received the highest Austro-Hungarian military decoration, the Knight’s Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa in recognition of his feats of arms.

Memorial plaque in honor of Wulff Olaf 

“Today, General Captain Wulff Olaf returns home, and will stay with us as long as we say his name, hand down his stories and keep his spirit alive in the warship crewmembers’ community” – declared Major Norbert Koch, Chief of Training Directorate, HDF 1st EOD and Riverine Guard Regiment during the unveiling ceremony of a memorial plaque erected in honor of the outstanding figure of Hungarian riverine warship history at the HDF Military Port in Budapest.

Descending from a Norwegian family living in Hungary, Wulff Olaf was the last commander of the Danube Flotilla, which was disbanded in accordance with the Treaty of Trianon ending the First World War. In 1921, he organized the Royal Hungarian Riverine Guard operating under the supervision of the Ministry of the Interior, and became its first commander.

He left Hungary with his wife during the Second World War, and settled in Costa Rica, where he passed away in June 1955. On the initiative of the Ministry of Defence, his mortal remains have been transported to Hungary after 12 years of preparatory work.

“The community of past, present and future soldiers believes that service is honorable, sacrifice is meaningful and our heroes’ memory is eternal” – said Major Koch, who pointed out that the General Captain was not only an excellent naval officer but also a figure of historic significance. He was a man who embodied the camaraderie and dedication of the Royal Hungarian Riverine Guard and its glorious predecessors.

The figure of the General Captain was evoked by Dr. András Margitay-Becht, who related a story dating from September 1914, when the Hungarian warships in distress on River Save were rescued under the command of then Commodore Wulff Olaf. One of the warships in distress was the SMS Leitha monitor.

“Today, 111 years later this joyful encounter has repeated itself. The Leitha Monitor Museum Ship – an old comrade of the one-time commander that is five years older than him and awaits restoration – was waiting for his mortal remains in the military port of the Hungarian Defence Forces” – said András Margitay-Becht.

The memorial plaque erected in the HDF Military Port was unveiled by Wulff Olaf’s great-grandson Ferdinand von Herold Duarte and Colonel László Lengyel, Commander, HDF 1st EOD and Riverine Guard Regiment.

Wreaths were laid at the memorial site by HDF Defence Staff Director of Staff Major General Zoltán Somogyi on behalf of the HDF Defence Staff, by Hungary’s Honorary Consul to Costa Rica Ferdinand von Herold Duarte and his wife in the name of the family, by Acting MoD IMMH Commander Lieutenant Colonel Roland Maruzs on behalf of the MoD Institute and Museum of Military History, by Colonel László Lengyel, Commander, HDF 1st EOD and Riverine Guard Regiment on behalf of the unit, and by Major Norbert Koch.