Bulgaria in WWI

[rhlv]

So, you drew the short straw, eh?

When and where are you going to publish the information you compile? Many thanks for your work, doc!

I guess "short straw" might be a good way to look at it. It's certainly been interesting. To answer you other question--I don't know. My job is to compile the list of people we're interested in looking for, then I hand that to my department head. He sends it to the people in charge (does this sound like a classic bureaucracy or what ?). At some point they should send a list of the people they want those of us around here to track down with no promises it will be anyone from the Balkans. (The rationale for that? Got me?!?) Then we start looking again. It's supposed to be finished for the centennial (2014) but where it will be published is anyone's guess (I lean toward some academic journal, but that's strictly a guess).
Sorry I can't be more specific.
Rich

[Nick]

Hey, "making history" is not easy! By publishing I meant, "making available to the public". On-line would be the most convenient mode, info does not have to be printed. Or is it too involved? I would greatly appreciate anything that you may find appropriate to share with us.

Thank you again,

Nick

[rhlv]

Nick:
I have no idea how it will be published (they don't confer with either me or the other peons on things like that). I note you're from Champaign so if you are at all familiar with the university there you have some idea what I'm talking about.
If you are interested, I can publish the list (as I have it) here for your information. Probably wouldn't hurt to let some of the people here see it so that they can correct any mistakes which I have.
Rich

[Nick]

...I note you're from Champaign so if you are at all familiar with the university there you have some idea what I'm talking about.

Well, somewhat - I just work for the U of I, but don't run it Seriously though, I have a pretty good idea how things work here - S-L-O-W.

As far as posting the info - I would say it could be rather helpful, as it will allow feedback in both directions.

Hail to all researchers of Bulgarian history!

[crapouillot]

Battle for Bitola-Monastir 1916

Hi everybody, always happy to see your very helpful forum !
I search some information, from bulgarian side, about the 1916's battle for Bitola : hard to find in french, even on french side, so i think of this forum one more time : it seems to exist an article on a bulgarian topic about the bulgarian offensive of august, but for sure my bulgarian is .... Sо, i believe in you one more time...... :rock:
Of course, if you have question about french army, i'm here !

Bravo Melissa pour l'historique de la Bulgarie, vraiment très intéressant ! :tup:

Thanks ! Merci !!
A plus ! Crapouillot

[mellisa]

Well, If you have the bulgarian article, I can try to translate it if you like? I guess you need it in english or in french?

P.S. Merci beaucoup

[rhlv]

Colonels in division command 1915-18

Looking over a post by mcp that shows a list of division commanders for World War I and includes rank I note an inordinate number of them (13 at least) are colonels when they take command. That seems to me an extraordinary number of colonels. I wondered why so many colonels. My guess is due to casualties and sacking from the recently concluded Balkan Wars, but that's only a guess (I also know a couple, like Dmitriev, ended up with Russia). Anyone know why this inordinate number of colonels in division command?
Rich

[dibo]

Because, unlike today, there were only a few generals and too many troops in the Bulgarian army.
Seriously - the first general in the Bulgarian army was appointed only in 1891. By 1912 there were only two dozens of them. Several left the army after the debacle in 1913, some colonels got promoted in 1913, but until 1917-1918 and the mass promotions it was not unusual Bulgarian infantry division to be commanded by a Colonel. Bear in mind that by the end of the war Bulgaria had mobilized nearly one million soldiers. There were simply not enough officers to command all the units created.

[MCP]

Because, unlike today, there were only a few generals and too many troops in the Bulgarian army.
Seriously - the first general in the Bulgarian army was appointed only in 1891. By 1912 there were only two dozens of them. Several left the army after the debacle in 1913, some colonels got promoted in 1913, but until 1917-1918 and the mass promotions it was not unusual Bulgarian infantry division to be commanded by a Colonel. Bear in mind that by the end of the war Bulgaria had mobilized nearly one million soldiers. There were simply not enough officers to command all the units created.

It is true, Dibo, but I must admit that I was very astonished the first time I realized that so many colonels commanded infantry divisions during WW1. Expecially because a Bulgaria Infantry Division had more than 30,000 men at the beginning of the war!

[rhlv]

I take your meaning about the growth in size of the army. Of course some growth took place during the Balkan Wars. I went to your thread with the list of generals. I noted 74 (if I counted right) were generals before Bulgaria entered World War I (with a couple being promoted almost simultaneously with the war). That's certainly not a lot for an army with 12 divisions. I didn't take time to check how many of the 74 were still around in 1915 (some of them becoming general prior to 1900) so 74 indicates the raw number, not the actual number available to command in 1915.
Rich

[dibo]

Actually in 1911 there were 21 general in active service - 14 in the infantry; 2 in the cavalry, 1 in the artillery, 1 with the engineers, 2 in the General Staff and 1 in the Military Judiciary.
At the end of 1914 there were 19 generals in acitve service - 13 in the infantry, 2 in the cavalry, 2 in the General Staff, 1 in the artilery and 1 in command of the Military Hospitals.
At 08.1915 there were 24 generals in acive service - 9 in the General Staff, 1 in the Military School, 13 in the Infantry and 1 in the Cavalry.
Of course there were at that time two or three dozens generals in the reserve. Of these many refused to be mobilized in 09-10.1915 (some had already joined the Russian army in 1914), others were not trusted by Ferdinand I and were relegated to secondary positions with the Bulgarian army - commanding garrison or occupational units, etc.
If you add the Generals who had died of natural causes in 1891-1914 (AFAIK no Bulgarian general died in battle during this period) you will arrive at your number of 74.

[rhlv]

thanks for taking the time to break out the actual number in August 1915. 13 generals for 11 infantry divisions isn't many. I was particularly taken by the fact that a number of generals were relegated to the sidelines because of relations with either the Czar or the Russians (although joining the Russians isn't exactly sidelines, is it?). Thanks again.
Rich

[dibo]

I was particularly taken by the fact that a number of generals were relegated to the sidelines because of relations with either the Czar or the Russians (although joining the Russians isn't exactly sidelines, is it?). Thanks again.
Rich

Actually by summer 1915 Bulgaria was still officially neutral and uncommited. So joining the Russians in 1914 was not considered as treason. However when Dimitriev still remained with the Russians after the Bulgarian mobilisation 1915 he was AFAIK declared as traitor by the Bulgarian authorities.

[crapouillot]

IIIème Armée 1916

Je cherche l'ordre de bataille de la IIIe Armée à l'ouverture de la campagne contre la Roumanie, avec les unités allemandes.
Merci

Search for the battle order of the IIIrd Bulgarian army at the beginning of the campaign, with the german units.
Thanks
Sylvain

[ISTORIK]

III-ème Armée Bulgare, 1913

http://www.chez.com/belgaria/HISTOIRE/histoire7.htm