Endre Kabos
Encyclopedia
Endre Kabos born in Nagyvárad, Hungary
, was a Hungarian sabre
fencer
.
Kabos won European individual gold medals in individual sabre in 1933 and 1934; and team gold medals in 1931, 1933, 1934, and 1935. Among his teammates were Attila Petschauer
and Sándor Gombos
. (In 1937, the European Championships were renamed the ‘World Championships.’)
Kabos was more economically challenged than most of his top level Hungarian fencing compatriots. Following the Hungarian team’s triumph at the 1934 Europeans, Kabos retired from competition to open a grocery store. Through the good graces of a patron, however, he was able to resume his fencing career and lead Hungary to its 1935 Euro Team title (and a pair of 1936 Olympic gold medals).
medals for Hungary
. At the 1932 Los Angeles
Games, he won a gold medal
in the team competition. Hungary defeated the United States (13-3), Italy (9-2), and Poland (9-1) in the finals, and Kabos himself won 15 of his 16 bouts. Kabos also won the bronze medal
in the individual sabre competition.
Kabos returned to the Olympics at the 1936 Berlin
Olympics, and dominated the competition. He won gold medals in both the team and individual events. He won 24 of 25 matches in the individual competition. As a team, Hungary went undefeated. He was one of a number of Jewish athletes who won medals at the Nazi Olympics in Berlin in 1936.
, even champion fencers such as Kabos.
, Kabos was arrested by Hungary's home-grown Nazis, the Arrow Cross
, and sent to a forced labor camp, where he was interred for at least five months. With the aid of a compassionate guard, he escaped and joined the Hungarian underground.
There are various accounts of Kabos’ death on November 4, 1944, the day before his 38th birthday, following Germany’s World War II occupation of Hungary, but each ends with the same outcome.
According to one report, he lost his life defending the Margit Bridge that separates the cities of Buda
and Pest.
Another account claims he was killed when a munitions truck that he was driving exploded as the result of a pipe bomb
, as he attempted to drive across the bridge, plunging the truck and Kabos into the Danube River.
in 1986.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, was a Hungarian sabre
Sabre (fencing)
The sabre is one of the three weapons of modern sport fencing, and is alternatively spelled saber in American English. The sabre differs from the other modern fencing weapons, the épée and foil, in that it is possible to score with the edge of the blade; for this reason, sabreur movements and...
fencer
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
.
Fencing career
Kabos began fencing after receiving a fencing outfit as a birthday present. Although he hid the outfit in his wardrobe, a friend found it and teased him. The following day, he enrolled in a fencing club just to spite his friend. He went on to become one of the world's greatest fencers in the 1930s.Slovakian Championship
Kabos gained national prominence in 1928 when he won the Individual Sabre gold medal at the Slovakian Championships.European Championships
In 1930, he took the Individual silver medal at the European Championships.Kabos won European individual gold medals in individual sabre in 1933 and 1934; and team gold medals in 1931, 1933, 1934, and 1935. Among his teammates were Attila Petschauer
Attila Petschauer
Attila Petschauer was a Jewish Hungarian Olympic fencer.-Fencing career:Born in Budapest, Petschauer was a member of the Hungarian fencing team in the 1928 and 1932 Olympics...
and Sándor Gombos
Sándor Gombos
Dr. Sándor Gombos was a Hungarian fencer.-World Championships:...
. (In 1937, the European Championships were renamed the ‘World Championships.’)
Kabos was more economically challenged than most of his top level Hungarian fencing compatriots. Following the Hungarian team’s triumph at the 1934 Europeans, Kabos retired from competition to open a grocery store. Through the good graces of a patron, however, he was able to resume his fencing career and lead Hungary to its 1935 Euro Team title (and a pair of 1936 Olympic gold medals).
Olympics
He won four OlympicOlympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
medals for Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. At the 1932 Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
Games, he won a gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in the team competition. Hungary defeated the United States (13-3), Italy (9-2), and Poland (9-1) in the finals, and Kabos himself won 15 of his 16 bouts. Kabos also won the bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
in the individual sabre competition.
Kabos returned to the Olympics at the 1936 Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
Olympics, and dominated the competition. He won gold medals in both the team and individual events. He won 24 of 25 matches in the individual competition. As a team, Hungary went undefeated. He was one of a number of Jewish athletes who won medals at the Nazi Olympics in Berlin in 1936.
Anti-Semitism
In the 1930s, anti-Semitic views pervaded fencing in Hungary. Fencing officials openly disdained JewsJews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
, even champion fencers such as Kabos.
Forced labor camp and death
Following the start of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Kabos was arrested by Hungary's home-grown Nazis, the Arrow Cross
Arrow Cross
A cross whose arms end in arrowheads is called a "cross barby" or "cross barbee" in the traditional terminology of heraldry. In Christian use, the ends of this cross resemble the barbs of fish hooks, or fish spears...
, and sent to a forced labor camp, where he was interred for at least five months. With the aid of a compassionate guard, he escaped and joined the Hungarian underground.
There are various accounts of Kabos’ death on November 4, 1944, the day before his 38th birthday, following Germany’s World War II occupation of Hungary, but each ends with the same outcome.
According to one report, he lost his life defending the Margit Bridge that separates the cities of Buda
Buda
For detailed information see: History of Buda CastleBuda is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the west bank of the Danube. The name Buda takes its name from the name of Bleda the Hun ruler, whose name is also Buda in Hungarian.Buda comprises about one-third of Budapest's...
and Pest.
Another account claims he was killed when a munitions truck that he was driving exploded as the result of a pipe bomb
Pipe bomb
A pipe bomb is an improvised explosive device, a tightly sealed section of pipe filled with an explosive material. The containment provided by the pipe means that simple low explosives can be used to produce a relatively large explosion, and the fragmentation of the pipe itself creates potentially...
, as he attempted to drive across the bridge, plunging the truck and Kabos into the Danube River.
Hall of Fame
Kabos, who was Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of FameInternational Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was opened July 7, 1981, in Netanya, Israel. It honors Jewish athletes and their accomplishments from anywhere around the world....
in 1986.