Theodor

The 4th class /on ribbon and pinback/ did not have a crown. The 3rd class on ribbon had a small crown. But I really doubt the Lt. would have it! No way IMO.

Probably what he has is a Military Merit order. In times of war it was suspended on Bravery ribbon /the yellow-black ribbon was for peace times/.

Yes, this is very curious! Shipka veterans were alive and are participated in celebrations as late as 1954-55! Keep in mind that "Shipka" was a heroic defense battle in the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-78!

Just try to imagine what these folks have witnessed: born in the Ottoman Empire, volunteered in a Bulgarian unit within the Russian army, which was first intended as second line duties unit, but found itself in heaviest battles. Russian-Turkish War 1877-78, then building the reborn Bulgarian state, then the Serbian-Bulgarian War in 1885, Balkan War 1912, second Balkan War 1913, WW1, WW2, add to that several coups through the years and finally a transition from monarchy to socialist state... These brave guys have seen it all :cheers:

The State Council honored that man Petar Krumov Gogov with the title "Honoured Worker of the Culture". :cheers:

The pencil on the back cover means 34th School in Sofia /a few bus stops from home/. Very nice badge!

I have one, probably newer than yours.

I am sorry but do not know! There must be something after all, next time I visit the National Library will try to find out.

He was Chief of Command West. It was indeed based in Sofia, but I believe that was a bigger thing, not just a town garrison, but the whole army structure in the western part of the country.

And these, too. Just shown, no explanations.

The badges as displayed into an old photo book about the border troops:

As shown in a recent thread, gen. Kozarov, commander of the Anti-Air Defense 1959-1973. Among all the trinkets, a Bravery order is seen, from his participation in WW2.

There is nothing unusual about these awards. First of all, there was no "fashism" in Bulgaria and the Royal orders and medals, established in the very early 1880s and awarded to officers and soldiers in 5 wars of the Bulgarian Kingdom, have nothing in common with Mussolini

Now, Bulgaria was a kingdom until the falsified Referendum of September 1946.

During the war against Germany /from the autumn of 1944 to the spring of 1945/ there were no other awards - the soldiers and the officers received the old Royal awards. At that time the State had not changed - at least in its "outer shape". The communists, backed by the Red Army, had made a coup and ruled the country, but it was still a Monarchy with Regents to the little a-hole Simeon II. If I may say it that way, the state system was not yet changed in shape, just other people took the seats. Indeed at that time all the political leaders and army commanders were replaced, people were already being killed at a large scale with no court sentence, but generally the system remained the same.

Only after 1946 it all changed - the monarchy was replaced with Republic, in 1947 a new Dimitrov's Constitution was made and things turned upside down. The state system changed dramatically, the people lost their property and etc. etc.

Back to the war: in 1944 and 1945 the Royal orders were the only ones to exist and to be awarded. And yes they were awarded! In numbers never seen before. According to veterans, the propaganda moment was heavily involved and loads of decorations were issued, reaching as far as giving Two Bravery awards to an officer for a single mission against the German forces! Of course, there was heavy fighting and great many orders were deserved, but also loads came through propaganda purposes.

No matter of their Royal origin and outlook, the awards from the war against Germany 1944-45 were considered perfectly legal and many officers did wear them. Until 1947 99% of the Royal officers were purged from the army, but a great part of the new Socialist officers had participated in the war /most as soldiers and sergeants, a few with higher ranks/ and did wear their orders with pride.

CERTIFICATE Nr 329

The HQ of the 2/35 Infantry Battalion certifies, that the reserve sanitary NCO Trifon Dimitrov Marinov from the town of Nikopol, for shown Bravery during the combats from October 3rd to 14th 1944, is awarded with the Military Order for Bravery III /third/ grade. /Ref. order 33 § 1 on 36th Inf. Kozloduiski regiment from 1945/. The present note is given to him to be used wherever is necessary. Town Oryahovo, 18 February 1946, Poruchik temporary commander of the 2/35 Inf. Battalion /Stoyanov/

THREE very full flight logbooks from 1938 to 1946 show his flight service - he flew really a lot, first on training and bomber aircraft, later /seems from 1942 or late 1941/ he became flight instructor in the Air Force. According to his own notes on a blank page in one book, till 1946 he had 1582,30 flight hours, including 160 at night.

And something also interesting, his Knemeyer DR2 flight instrument with a 1940 manual, published by the Air Force and stamped "Secret, for service use only!".

Yes, they are Parade white summer jacket for the rank of Lt. He started his career as NCO, but was promoted to an officer. This uniform is Ca. 1942 - 1943. His service continued long after the war.

Sometimes the things come to me with 70 years of dirt and dust. And sometimes - nice, clean and with fresh smell of washing machine powder A grouping directly from the pilot's family! But the granddaughter, having no clue about collecting uniforms, has washed the tunics in the washing machine. Wonderful cleaned, indeed, but the shoulder boards of the summer parade tunic were ruined by the machine. Oh well, no big deal, they were moth damaged anyway, I'm still so happy with this wonderful historical grouping! :D

The hat needed special care, because it is not alone, not anonymous. Together with it I got some papers from the officer - two diplomas from the Military of H.M. School, a St Alexander order diploma and a Red Cross award diploma. Seems more order diplomas and other papers have been lost through the ages, but not bad after all, most often the uniforms come with no name :cheers:

And against all my non-cleaning beliefs, I had no option but clean it. The top cover part was hand-washed, the rest was carefully vacuum cleaned and wiped with a sponge. The best part is, as I tested the visor, its original surface was absolutely neutral towards chemical paint stripper. So the nasty paint is gone without any damage to the visor!

It will never be new, no way to get rid of all stains or un-eat the eaten piping, but now looks at least a bit better and may stay in the collection. Only one thing is still bothering me: the cockade. It is the right size /largest size/, but I suspect it must be from the type with tin main part, not white china. But I'll have to search through the old photos to see.

It's better, isn't it? :rolleyes:

It looks too clean on the photos! In hand it was the most dirty piece of uniform I've seen so far!

I am not keen about cleaning/washing uniforms and hats, under normal conditions the most I'd do is gently vacuum clean dust and/or animal hairs.

But sometimes the things are in such condition, that can not be in a collection, can not even be kept indoors See this poor hat. Decades of dust, spiders, black from coal and some paint to boot :speechless:

Thanks, Rick! And with some other small things, compared to an ordinary "Soldier's cross".

Great details on this tiny thing! :cheers:

Hi guys, I am happy to show you this tiny beauty! Bravery order, 4th class, real small but with amazing detail! Most likely from the Balkan war 1912-1913. The order could be for the 1885 Serbian-Bulgarian war, but the lily-shaped catch for the ring points to the Balkan war.

BMD - the Bulgarian Mint

I have seen similar with screwback. I believe these are from the late 30s and the WW2, not sure if generally for the Bulgarian Red Cross or only for the Youth Red Cross organization /part of the red Cross, for youths/. I will try to find out more information. For now, one Red Cross young guy, I think his is screwback. And BTW this badge is heavily reproduced /or in fact original unfinished copper tin parts were found and completed better or worse/, but this one looks Ok to me.

K. Waydelin

A. Wittmann