Bulgaria Bulgarian Col General

[hunyadi]

AUGUST HRISTOV KABAKCHIEV Born on May 14th 1914 in Sofia.

His father, Hristo Kabakchiev, was one of the founders of the BRSDP in 1907, together with Dimitar Blagoev and Vasil Kolarov, which was later transformed into the BKP (Bulgarian Communist Party)

For his fathers beliefs the family was persecuted by the Reactionary Regime. Hristo Kabakchiev was arrested for his communist activites and sentenced to jail. However while in jail he had aquired enogh of a local backing to be elected as a parliament representative and had to be released! Imagine that!

After such an escapade the family decided to escape from Bulgaria. They first settled in Vienna, Austria, and then later on to Moscow.

The young August Kabakchiev, after graduating from primary school in Moscow, then went on to graduate from the Air Foece Academy Jukov, gaining an engineer degree. Then the Germans invaided on June of 1941, Commissioned as a Lieutenant he was sent to the frontline and fought against the Germans on many fronts, including the Byelorussian.

When the end of the war came in 1945, he was a Guards Major in the Red Army.

In May 1945 he returned to Bulgaria, becoming a Colonel from the Bulgarian People?s Army. His career reached to the rank of General-Colonel, in 1965.

His positions in the Bulgarian Army and state system:

- Chief Engineer of the AF

- Deputy Commander of the AF

- Deputy Chief of the Chief Staff of the Army 1956 ? 1960

- Deputy Minister of the Defense ? 1960 ? 1967

- Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Planning 1973 ? 1982

- Vice president of the international aviation federation FAI 1983 ? 1989.

- President of the Bulgarian-Vietnamese Friendship Society

Died on May 6th 1999.

[hunyadi]

Most of you probably saw it on Eban a while back - yes I am the one who got it and also a nice story about its owner. Not the most mint example - moth tracks and general wear at several 'functions' I would guess.

[hunyadi]

Gordon helped me out on a bunch of the ribbons - but many are there that we dont know about...anyone got a full list? The ribbon rack is sewn to the jacket. The pocket flap can no longer be opened. The bullion is worn nicely, but still retains its 'flair'

[hunyadi]

Also have the everyday set complete with pants. The button is missing and the pocket is useless - there was a huge slab of chest salad hanging there.

[hunyadi]

detail of the ribbon bar area

[Dave Danner]

Gordon helped me out on a bunch of the ribbons - but many are there that we dont know about...anyone got a full list? The ribbon rack is sewn to the jacket. The pocket flap can no longer be opened. The bullion is worn nicely, but still retains its 'flair'

1st Row - Order of Georgi Dimitrov, Order of Georgi Dimitrov, Order of the People's Republic, Order of the People's Republic (all Bulgaria)

2nd Row - Order of the People's Republic, Order of the People's Republic, Order of 9 September 1944 2nd Class, Order of 9 September 1944 3rd Class (all Bulgaria)

3rd Row - Order of the October Revolution (USSR), Order of the Red Banner (USSR), Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class (USSR), Order of the Red Star (USSR)

4th Row - Czechoslovak War Cross 1939, ???, Medal for Combat Merit (USSR)

5th Row - Medal for Combat Merit (USSR), Armed Forces 20 Year Long Service Medal (Bulgaria), Medal for Participation in the Antifascist Struggle (Bulgaria), Patriotic War Medal 1944-1945 (Bulgaria)

6th Row - Jubilee Medal "20 Years of Bulgarian People's Army", Jubilee Medal "25 Years of People's Rule", Jubilee Medal "25 Years of Bulgarian People's Army", any one of a number of all-red commemoratives (all Bulgaria)

7th Row - Medal of Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War (USSR), Medal "20 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-45" (USSR), Jubilee Medal "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" (USSR), Jubilee Medal "30 Years of Bulgarian People's Army" (Bulgaria)

The dimensions of the Patriotic War Medal 1944-1945 ribbon actually look closer to that of the Bulgarian World War I Commemorative Medal. The all-red one can be one of several, but is probably the Jubilee Medal "30 Years of Socialist Revolution in Bulgaria", issued in 1974.

[Lukasz Gaszewski]

The one next to the Czechoslovak War Cross is that of the Yugoslav Order of the Partisan Star 2nd Class (with Silver Wreath).

[hunyadi]

Wow - many many thanks! With a rack like that - it confirms the sotry even more. I wonder if there is any way to research his Soviet files???

[seb16trs]

Wow - many many thanks! With a rack like that - it confirms the sotry even more. I wonder if there is any way to research his Soviet files???

hello, I would be extremly happy if you could show us some details of the embroided pilot wings on the right chest, and how are stiched the lapel embroideries... many thanks! Sebastien

[hunyadi]

Sorry - the tunic is now in storage so I will have to get back to taking more photos of it at a later date

[Theodor]

Here is my wing, no idea though why it is on darker base cloth.

[Theodor]

closer

Edited May 24, 2008 by Theodor

[Theodor]

back

[Guest Rick Research]

Could that be from the 1950s, for a dark blue uniform? Or maybe naval aviation?

[Theodor]

Unfortunately it was a separate find - no paper and no nothing together with it to give a clue, only this single piece. I'll try to ask one old socialist times pilot, will report if find the answer.

Edited May 24, 2008 by Theodor

[hunyadi]

Bringing up this old thread - does anyone have any more information about this individual? Would love to find a photo - someone, somewhere must have made a photo of this individual? Two Orders of Dimitrov should have brought some press.... can his records be searched for in the USSR anymore?

Edited January 4, 2010 by hunyadi

[Theodor]

Here you are /sorry, small one!/

[hunyadi]

Thanks Theodor - Is there any other information that you could find on him for me? I would love to find a photo of him in the walking out uniform that I have of his... but also anything more on his career - where did you find his photo? Perhaps I can do some searching on my own - could you post his name in Cyrilic? :jumping:

[Theodor]

Август Кабакчиев

Unfortunately there is nothing more to find. This photo is from a small article in an online army magazine, for the occasion of his 90 birthday. Nothing new in there, only the tiny photo. In a week or two I may be visiting the National library, will see if they have something there.

[hunyadi]

Thanks Theodor - ! I hipe there may be something in the archives sending a PM

[artemii]

Also from Ebay.