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Bulgarian command structure in World War I

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    Bulgarian command structure in World War I

    Pursuant to some comments on the 2nd division commander thread, here's the list of Bulgarian miliatry leaders as I currently have it for the project mentioned on the thread. A couple of comments:
    If there are errors, do not hesitate to put them down. The info needs to be right.
    Sources range from British and Austrian official histories, to internet sites, to secondary sources, to info from the Defense Ministry. A special thank you goes to Nicolay who shows up on this site for posting, in a long threaded conversation with my late father, a lot of info on another website.
    Finally all dates include only the period of the war. I realize certain personnel held their post prior to October 1915 and after September 1918.

    Dibo: Corrections made so far shown in blue.

    Supreme Commander:
    Tzar Ferdinand I

    Commander of the Army in the Field:
    Nikola Todorov Zhekov 24.09.1915-04.10.1918

    Deputy Commander of the Army in the Field:
    Georgi Stoyanov Todorov 07.1918-09.1918

    Ministers of War:
    Nikola Todorov Zhekov 06.08.1915-21.09.1915
    Kalin Georgiev Naydenov 21.09.1915-21.06.1918
    Sava Panayotov Savov 21.06.1918-28.11.1918

    Staff and Army Commands

    Chiefs of Staff:
    Konstantin Antonov Zhostov 07.09.1915-30.08.1916
    Ivan Tzonev Lukov 01.09.1916-30.12.1917; 10.10.1918-27.10.1919
    Hristo Dimitrov Burmov 17.07.1918 - 10.10.1918

    Commanders of I Army
    Kliment Eftimov Boyadzhiev 11.09.1915-25.09.1916
    Dimitar Ivanov Geshov 12.1916-12.1917
    Stefan Miklaylov Nerezov 30.07.1918 - ?

    Commanders of II Army
    Georgi Stoyanov Todorov 15.09.1915-02.1917(12.1916?)
    Ivan Tzonev Lukov 30(07).12.1917 - 10.10.1918


    III Army
    Stefan Toshev August-December 1916
    Stefan Mikhaylov Nerezov December 1916-July 1917
    Sava Panaiotov Savov July 1917-February 1918
    Georgi Stoyanov Todorov February-June 1918 (army disbanded)

    IV Army
    Sava Panaiotov Savov February-June 1918
    Stefan Toshev June-Ocotober 1918

    A final couple of notes:
    1. One source listed Burmov's first name as Christo, all others as Hristo. I've chosen the most common.
    2. As for spellings, I have taken the spelling I most frequently found.
    Divisions in the next thread.

    rich

    Division commanders (all comments above also apply here)

    1 Division
    Yanko Draganov October 1915-September 1916
    Hristo Nedjalkov September 1916-September 1918

    2 Division
    Dimitry Geshov October 1915-September 1916
    Ivan Angelov Petrov (September 1916-June 1917 (per info from this site )
    Hristo Burmov June 1917-June 1918
    Ivan Rusov June-September 1918
    Asen Nikolov September 1918

    3 Division
    Nikola Ribarov (entire period of the war)

    4 Division
    Pantelet kiselov (entire period of the war)

    5 Division
    Panajot Byrnev (October 1915-November 1917)
    Ivan Bonchev (November 1917-September 1918)

    6 Division
    Hristo Popov (entire period of the war)

    7 Division
    Vylko Vasiliev (October 1915-september 1916)
    Ivan Rusev (September 1916-June 1917)
    Stefan Tasev (June 1917-September 1918)

    8 Division
    Todor Mitov (October 1915-September 1916)
    Georgi Boshnakov (September-December 1916)
    Stefan Bogdanov (January 1917-september 1918)

    9 Division
    Stefan Nerezov (October 1915-December 1916)
    Ivan Bonchev (December 1916-March 1917)
    Vladiir Vazov (March 1917-september 1918)

    10 Division
    Ivan Kolev (October 1915-March 1916)
    Hristo Bermov (May 1916-May 1917)
    Ivan Petrov (May 1917-September 1918)

    11 Division
    Krystio Zlatarev (entire period of the war)

    later formed divisions and cavalry below

    rich

    final division list. Again same comments and notes (plus a couple of added ones) apply:

    12 Division
    Georgi Abadjiev (November 1915-July 1917)
    Asen Nikolov (July 1917-September 1918)

    13 Division
    Hristo Lukov (from creation to February 1918 when it was apparently disbanded)

    14 Division (Have seen this division called "Mountain" Division)
    Alexander Protogerov (November 1916-July 1917)
    Mihail Sapunarov (July 1917-September 1918)

    Mixed Division (Have seen this division called "Composite" Division)
    Todor Kantardjiev (October 1916-September 1918)

    Cavalry Division
    Aleksandr Tanev (October-November 1915)
    Ivan Stoykov (November 1915-May 1916 when division divided into 1 & 2 Cav Divs)

    1 Cavalry Division
    Ivan Kolev (May 1916-July 1917)
    Todor Markov (July 1917-September 1918)

    2 Cavalry Division
    Ivan Stoyrov (Mary 1916-1917)
    Ivan Tabakov (1917-September 1918)

    Last couple of notes:
    I've seen 14 division and Mixed division with other names and don't know which, if either, is correct. I've put down the one I've seen most, but noted the other.
    I've been unable to track down the date Stoyrov left 2 Cav Division and when Tabakov took command. It is possible there is another commander between them (or maybe not).
    Also I note that Aleksandr and Alexander are the same name, but I've seen one spelled Alek and the other Alex, so I left them as I found them until the exact spelling could be confirmed.


    Enjoy, and correct as appropriate.
    Rich
    Last edited by dibo; 14-06-2005, 21:38.

    #2
    Коментарии от българска страна?

    Thank you, doc! Let's see what our learned colleagues have to say!

    Уважаеми г-жи и г-да историци,

    Нека покажем на любезния господин, че не само чужденците знаят българската история. Ако някой има какво да добави или поправи по горния списък, моля! Аз не съм историк, иначе бих внесъл моята лепта.

    Напред, историци!
    Никто не обнимет необъятного! - Козьма Прутков
    A який чоловiк горилку не п'є - то вiн або хворий, або падлюка. - Невідомий українець

    Comment


      #3
      Some corrections made. More to follow. Names linked to the relevant bios.
      We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are
      ---Anais Nin----

      Comment


        #4
        I add my list. I have too to thank both Dibo and Nikolay, that so greatly helped me in collecting information about this topic.

        Armies Chief of General Staff

        1. Armja
        Obst. Stefan Todorov Azmanov (10.1915 - 10.1916)
        Obst. Todor Markov (10.1916 - 14.08.1917)
        GM. Todor Markov (15.08.1917 - 29.07.1917)
        ?
        GM. Stefan Georgev Popov (08.1918 - 09.1918)
        2. Armja
        Obst. Ivan Atanasov Rusev (10.1915 - 16.09.1916)
        ?
        3. Armja
        Obst. Stefan Georgev Popov (1916 - 31.12.1917)
        GM. Stefan Georgev Popov (01.01.1918 - 08.1918
        4. Armja
        Obst. Stefan Todorov Azmanov (03.1917 - 31.12.1917)
        GM. Stefan Todorov Azmanov (01.01.1918 - 09.1918)


        Division Commanders

        1. Sofijska Diwizija
        GM. Janko Draganov (1913 -18.09.1916)
        Obst. Hristo Jankov Nedjalkov (19.09.1916 - 19.05.1917)
        GM. Hristo Jankov Nedjalkov (20.05.1917 - 30.09.1918)
        2. Trakiska Diwizija
        GM. Dimitar Ivanov Geshev (12.1912 - 11.09.1916
        Obst. Ivan Angelov Petrov (12.09.1916 - 19.05.1917
        GM. Hristo Dimitrov Burmov (20.05.1917 - 16.07.1918)
        GM. Ivan Atanasov Rusev (17.07.1918 - 19.09.1918)
        GM. Asen Nikolov (19.09.1918 - 30.09.1918)
        3. Balkanska Diwizija
        GM. Nikola Iliev Ribarov (09.1915 - 19.05.1917)
        GLt. Nikola Iliev Ribarov (20.05.1917 - 30.09.1918)
        4. Preslavska Diwizija
        Obst. Pantelej Georgiev Kiselov (1914 - 31.12.1915)
        GM. Pantelej Georgiev Kiselov (01.01.1916 - 14.08.1917)
        GLt. Pantelej Georgiev Kiselov (15.08.1917 - 30.09.1918)
        5. Dunavska Diwizija
        GM. Panajot Bichev Barnev (1915 - 22.11.1917)
        Obst. Ivan Bonchev (22.11.1917 - 31.12.1917)
        GM. Ivan Bonchev (01.01.1918 - 30.09.1918)
        6. Bdinska Diwizija
        Obst. Hristo Rachev Popov (01.10.1915 - 31.12.1915)
        GM. Hristo Rachev Popov (01.01.1916 - 30.09.1918)
        7. Rilska Diwizija
        Obst. Vălko Vasilev (01.10.1915 - 31.12.1915)
        GM. Vălko Vasilev (01.01.1916 - 17.09.1916)
        Obst. Ivan Atanasov Rusev (17.09.1916 - 29.06.1917)
        Obst. Stefan Tasev (29.06.1917 - 14.08.1917)
        GM. Stefan Tasev (15.08.1917 - 30.09.1918)
        8. Tundzavska Diwizija
        GM. Todor Zafirov Mitov (01.10.1915 - 17.09.1916)
        Obst. Georgi Nikolov Boshnakov (17.09.1916 - 31.12.1916)
        Obst. Stefan Nikiforov Bogdanov (01.01.1917 - 19.05.1917)
        GM. Stefan Nikiforov Bogdanov (20.05.1917 - 30.09.1918)
        9. Plevenska Diwizija
        GM. Stefan Mihajlov Nerezov (1915 - 01.12.1916)
        Obst. Ivan Bonchev (02.12.1916 - 05.03.1917)
        Obst. Vladimir Minchov Vazov (05.03.1917 - 19.05.1917)
        GM. Vladimir Minchov Vazov (20.05.1917 - 30.09.1918)
        10. Belomorska Diwizija
        GM. Ivan Kolev (12.1914 - 05.05.1916)
        Obst. Hristo Dimitrov Burmov (05.05.1916 - 20.05.1917)
        GM. Ivan Angelov Petrov (20.05.1917 - 30.09.1918)
        11. Makedonska Diwizija
        Obst. Krăstjo Hristov Zlatarev (09.1915 - 31.12.1915)
        GM. Krăstjo Hristov Zlatarev (01.01.1916 - 30.09.1918)
        12. Pehotna Diwizija
        GM. Georgi Kirov Abadzhiev (11.1915 - 14.07.1917)
        Obst. Asen Nikolov (15.07.1917 - 14.08.1917)
        GM. Asen Nikolov (15.08.1917 - 19.09.1918)
        Sborna Pehotna Diwizija
        GM. Todor Dimitrov Kantardzhiev (10.1916 - 14.08.1917)
        GLt. Todor Dimitrov Kantardzhiev (15.08.1917 - 30.09.1918)
        Planiska Diwizija
        Obst. Aleksandăr Nikolov Protogerov (11.1916 - 31.03.1917)
        GM. Aleksandăr Nikolov Protogerov (01.04.1917 - 24.05.1917)
        Obst. Mihail Stefanov Sapunarov (25.05.1917 - 31.12.1917)
        GM. Mihail Stefanov Sapunarov (01.01.1918 - 30.09.1918)
        Belomorska Otbrana
        GM. Bozhko Ikonomov (? - 30.09.1918)
        Otbrana po reka Dunav
        GM. Atanas Grigoriev Nazlămov (30.09.1916 - 12.02.1917)
        deutsche 302. ID.
        GM. Konrad von Hippel (10.1916 - 12.1916)
        GM. Hermann Freiherr von Ziegesar (12.1916 - 10.1918)
        Konna Diwizija
        GM. Aleksandar Tanev (01.10.1915 - 30.11.1915)
        Obst. Ivan Velikov Stojkov (30.11.1915 - 05.05.1916)
        1. Konna Diwizija
        GM. Ivan Kolev (05.05.1916 - 27.07.1917)
        GLt. Ivan Kolev 28.07.1917 - 29.07.1917)
        GM. Todor Markov (29.07.1917 - 30.09.1918)
        2. Konna Diwizija
        Obst. Ivan Velikov Stojkov (05.05.1916 - 1917)
        Obst. Ivan Tabakov (1917 - 31.12.1917)
        GM. Ivan Tabakov (01.01.1918 - 30.09.1918)

        Comment


          #5
          rhlv написа
          13 Division
          Hristo Lukov (from creation to February 1918 when it was apparently disbanded)

          AFIK there was no 13th Infantry Division during WW1. A 13th Infantry Division existed briefly in 1913.

          Comment


            #6
            MCP написа
            AFIK there was no 13th Infantry Division during WW1. A 13th Infantry Division existed briefly in 1913.
            Correct
            We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are
            ---Anais Nin----

            Comment


              #7
              Question on the Chief of Staff as corrected. You show a 6 1/2 month gap at the beginning of 1918, the period I showed someone named Stefan Noykov (otherwise unknown to me) as CofS. Any idea who fills the gap?
              Rich

              Comment


                #8
                Noikov

                rhlv написа
                Question on the Chief of Staff as corrected. You show a 6 1/2 month gap at the beginning of 1918, the period I showed someone named Stefan Noykov (otherwise unknown to me) as CofS. Any idea who fills the gap?
                Rich
                Stefan Nojkov was head of Operational department of the General Staff in 1917-18. When GM. Ivan Tsonev Lukov was assigned to 2nd Army, he acted as a substitute Chief of Staff.

                Comment


                  #9
                  AFAIK - no one officially. Col. Noykov was Head of Operational Section of the General Staff at this time, so it is possible he was unofficially acting like a Chief of Staff
                  We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are
                  ---Anais Nin----

                  Comment


                    #10
                    dibo написа
                    AFAIK - no one officially. Col. Noykov was Head of Operational Section of the General Staff at this time, so it is possible he was unofficially acting like a Chief of Staff
                    AFIK col. Noykov was unofficially acting like a Chief of Staff and Leit-col. Nikola Bakardzhjev unofficially replaced him as Head of Operational Section of the General Staff.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      And now a couple of more questions on the edits (and thanks to Dibo for them):
                      At I army there is a gap of about 3 months between the 1st and 2nd commanders I found, and a gap of about 6 months between the 2nd and 3rd commanders. Obviously an army in the field didn't go 3/6 months without a commander. So who held those positions?
                      At II army the same problem exists with almost a year gap between the 2 commanders. So who's in the hole?
                      Rich

                      Comment

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