History

This Order was the last decoration established by the Parliament of Hungary prior to the installation of People’s Republic of Hungary soviet puppet government in 1949, the Hungarian Working People’s Party. It was conferred upon foreigners and Hungarian citizens who had rendered dedicated service to the aim of world peace, as well as for meritorious service in the realms of education, art, culture, and science.

The Order is named after Lajos Kossuth, a Hungarian freedom fighter and the Regent-President of Hungary from 1848-1849.

The Small I Class was worn as a less formal version of the full-sized I Class.

These grades, also known as Kleine Dekorationen or Small Orders, adopted the form of the III Class with associated ribbon decorations.

The ribbon of the Small I Class features a miniaturized version of the I Class Breast Star decoration.

The I Class was restricted to a total of 19 recipients.

See Order of Kossuth, HUN163, in the Titles & Orders of the Hungarian People's Republic (1949-1989) for more information.