Minifigure – Captain Ervin Tarczay (Hungarian Tank Ace) (LEGO Compatible)

Character Identification

Specific Name: Captain Ervin Tarczay (Hungarian Tank Ace) (Magyar Királyi Honvéd – 2nd Armored Division Commander)

The figure is a specific historical representation of Ervin Tarczay, a hero of the Royal Hungarian Army who is credited with destroying over 10 enemy tanks and fighting until the very end of the war.

Visual Description & Evidence (Why it’s Hungarian)

• The Collar Tabs (Crucial Detail):

  • Color: The collar tabs on this figure are Dark Blue (Cornflower Blue). In the Hungarian Army, Blue was the specific branch color for the Armored Troops (Harckocsizók).

  • Shape: Just like the infantry figures, the patch has the unique Hungarian “Spearhead” / Jagged Rear Edge shape. Italian collar patches (mostrine) were rectangular or flame-shaped; they did not have this specific wavy back edge.

• Headgear:

  • The Cap: He wears the iconic Bocskai Field Cap with the Holy Crown crest on the front. This is a strictly Hungarian national symbol. Italian tank commanders typically wore black berets or large leather crash helmets, not this style of cloth field cap.

  • Headset: He is wearing black Tanker Headphones over his cap, signifying his role as a commander operating the radio inside a tank (like a Turán or a Tiger I, which Tarczay commanded).

• Rank & Accessories:

  • Insignia: The gold/silver markings on the blue collar tab denote him as an Officer (Captain).

  • Equipment: He holds a pair of black Binoculars, standard issue for tank commanders to spot enemy armor at long range.

• Uniform: The khaki/tan uniform matches the Hungarian armored crew field dress used during the summer campaigns on the Eastern Front.

Historical Background

• Ervin Tarczay: He was a legendary figure in the Hungarian military. Serving in the 2nd Armored Division, he fought in the heavy battles of Galicia and the defense of Hungary.

• The “Tiger” of Hungary: Tarczay famously commanded one of the few German Tiger I tanks supplied to Hungary, as well as the Hungarian-made Turán tanks.

• Not Italian: While Italy was also an Axis power, their tank uniforms were distinct (often blue overalls or grey-green uniforms). The combination of the Bocskai cap and the jagged collar tab makes this figure 100% Hungarian.