Abstrakt
The chapter illustrates different layers of nationalism through the early iconographical element of Hungarian First World War memorials, the so-called "the Sword of God," which can be found in the first Hungarian WWI memorials. The study provides an overview of the history and meaning of this symbol and defines its place in the Hungarian commemoration of the First World War, showing in particular how the complexity of some deeply rooted Hungarian symbols were integrated into this new, politically constructed and ultimately short-lived symbol.
After intorducing the broader context of Hungarian WWI memorials, the chapter proceeds with an analysis of mythical elements as they were usede in one concrete example of the Sword of God. Then the examples from the official sample book of the Sword of God memorials from 1916 are classified and analysed.
During the analysis the origins of the used symbols are traced in order to show their transformation during the war and after the Treaty of Trianon.