Máté Zalka

Máté Zalka, born Béla Frankl, was a multifaceted Hungarian figure who made significant contributions to literature, while also leading a life marked by military and revolutionary endeavors. His early life took a dramatic turn when he fought in the Royal Hungarian Army during World War I, only to be captured by the Imperial Russian Army. This pivotal event exposed him to the ideologies of Bolshevism, setting the stage for his future involvement in various conflicts.

Zalka's military career spanned several notable conflicts, including the Russian Civil War and the Spanish Civil War, where he rose to the rank of general in the International Brigades. His life was cut short on June 22, 1937, when he was killed near Huesca by artillery fire. Following his death, his remains were repatriated to Hungary, where he was laid to rest in the Kerepesi Cemetery in Budapest, a testament to the complex and adventurous life he led as a writer, soldier, and revolutionary.