László Almásy
| László Ede Almásy de Zsadány et Törökszentmiklós | |
|---|---|
Bust of László Almásy at the Hungarian Geographical Museum in Érd
|
|
| Born |
22 August 1895 Borostyánkő, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | 22 March 1951 (aged 55) Salzburg, Austria |
| Buried at | Salzburg, Austria |
| Allegiance |
 Austria-Hungary Hungary Nazi Germany
|
| Service/branch |
Austro-Hungarian Army Austro-Hungarian Air Force German military intelligence service (Abwehr) Luftwaffe |
| Rank | Hauptmann |
| Unit |
11th Hussars Regiment Austro-Hungarian Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops Afrika Korps |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards | Iron Cross |
László Ede Almásy de Zsadány et Törökszentmiklós (22 August/3 November 1895 – 22 March 1951) was a Hungarian , motorist, desert explorer, aviator, Scout-leader and sportsman who also served as the basis for the protagonist in both Michael Ondaatje's novel The English Patient (1992) and the movie adaptation of the same name (1996).
Almásy was born in Borostyánkő, Austria-Hungary (today Bernstein im Burgenland, Austria), into a Hungarian noble family (his father was the zoologist and ethnographer György Almásy), and, from 1911 to 1914, was educated at Berrow School, situated in a private house in Eastbourne, England, where he was tutored by Daniel Wheeler.
During World War I, Almásy joined the 11th Hussars along with his brother Janos. Almásy saw action against the Serbians, and then the Russians on the Eastern Front. In 1916, he transferred to the Austro-Hungarian Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops. After being shot down over Northern Italy in March 1918, Almásy saw out the remainder of the war as a flight instructor.
After the war, Almásy returned to join the Eastbourne Technical Institute. From November 1921 to June 1922, he lodged at the same address in Eastbourne. He was a member of the pioneering Eastbourne Flying Club.
Returning to Hungary, Almásy became the personal secretary of the Bishop of Szombathely, János Mikes, one of the leading figures of the abortive post-war Habsburg restoration attempt. The young Almásy became involved in these events by accident as the driver of Bishop Mikes when King Karl IV of Hungary returned to Hungary in 1921 to claim the throne, and was helped by Mikes to reach Budapest (from where he was politely but firmly sent back to Austria by Miklós Horthy, the Regent of Hungary). After he was introduced, the King continued to refer to him as "Count Almásy", confusing László with another branch of the family. This was the basis for Almásy using the title to his advantage, mostly in Egypt among the Egyptian Royalty to open doors that would have remained closed to a commoner. However, he himself admitted in private conversations that the title was not legitimate.
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Wikipedia