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UNIDENTIFIED : 1916 ORIGINAL PERSONAL ACCOUNT MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY AN OFFICER OF THE HUNGARIAN ARMY MARCHING AND DRINKING TO THE BALKANS

32mo - over 4" - 5" tall. On offer is an original, interesting Eastern European manuscript relic of World War I being a handwritten diary by an unidentified Hungarian officer to and in the Balkans. Dated January 9th 1916 - April 30th 1916 the 9 x13 cm diary has 45 pages and though disbound and the back cover is missing though the booklet appears complete. Notes and quotes from a casual translation: January: 16, he goes to Godovics by horseback and drinks afternoon into evening; 17, he's hung over, and was sick until the 20th but is able to view a "practice"; 21 hears a lot of noise then gets into a fight with an "old man"; 22, in Zaria, he meets with the captain, and then gets home sometime in the morning; 23, the "old man" goes home; 26, in a shooting gallery; 31, he arrives in Idria, Slovenia. February: 1, again, there's lots of noise at 3am; 4, "Pista", posts a package for him in Idria. He spends the evening with Odon (a close friend and fellow soldier; 6, there was a pretty girl in the crowd he was having fun with in Idria; 7, he has training with a regiment in Idria, and later, he is leading some captains across a river/some water; 9, huge snowfall, he could be in Kosevi, Serbia; 14, gone back to Idria with Odon to do some shopping, then have a bath; 15, in Kosevi in the evening; 16, ate ham and pork, and smoked cigars... later went horseback riding with the 14th regiment until 7:30pm; 20, he's in Kosevi with Odon. Someone else asked him to visit, he obtained the address and then went for a walk; 21, there was a training in the middle of the night, but he didn't go and stayed home instead. There was a teacher in attendance for lunch, they took some photographs, and then he went home; 22, "Kiss" and Odon were in Zobni (Russia?) and arrived home at midnight; 23, Schwarzenberg (possibly Austria). There was a celebration there and the women were in high spirits. He stays there until the 25th, with Odon, and then goes back to Kosevi; 26, again, there's lots of noise in the night; 27, the 16th regiment arrives by horse and carriage; 28, place names mentioned but illegible, except for Rodik (Slovenia). March 2, he is confined for 3 days; 3, arrives in Bazovic (Slovenia), had lunch at the tavern and "Laci" plays piano. In the evening, the "old man" went to get his wife; 4, leaving late because of rain; 7, he is sick (diarrhoea); 8, he receives transfer orders; 9, he is going to Divazza (Slovenia) going for R&R; 12, he is visiting the 29th regiment; 24, he wakes up in St Peter... there's lots of drinking, and he's living with "Laci"; 25, sleeping until noon then going to "Kiss (pronounced Kish)", a friend or fellow soldier... and then more drinking; 27, taking photographs and then wins a drinking contest; 28, becomes acquainted with a tavern girl; 29, going to Bazovica, Slovenia - again, lots of drinking, from there he escorts a girl home and talks with her. April 3, attends a goodbye party with champagne; 5, receives marching orders and then drinks some more... food is scarce at this time; 6, arriving at Kviz/Kriz; 7, passing through several towns (illegible writing), possibly travels 36km, arrives at barracks, and then again, there is lots of noise in the night; 8, travels 15km, then R&R for the day at the coffee house, then drinking later. 9th, an Italian airplane flies overhead; 10, R&R in the morning after 32km travel. He says that the Italians want to disperse them, but his regiment's cannons are keeping them at bay. He says that they are shooting at Prevacsin..." (?) ...he sleeps outside that night; 11, travels 14km, day is about shooting Italian airplanes and sleeping and drinking later; 12, his back hurts and couldn't sleep well; 14, writing Easter cards and drinking lots of beer; 19 - 24, playing cards, etc because it's constantly raining; 24, he meets a pretty blond named "Krisztina"; 25, he goes photographing with "Mici"; 28, receives marching orders... He's drinking with "Laci", and later "Mici" goes home; 29, he's going to Divazza; 30, visits another coffee house (there's lots of moving around on the 29th and 30th - difficult to make out place names, other than St. Daniel). Overall Fair.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Fair

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