Bulgaria Nice Bulgarian Photo Album

[Ulsterman]

very interesting. Did the Bulgarian academies ever do yearbooks like they do over here?

Is there a Bulgarian officers' Association?

[Theodor]

Yes and yes The first class of the Military of H.M. School was from 1878. Starting with the 48th Class /this is the earliest album that I have, also some other collectors have not seen older albums so far/, finishing with 68 /early postwar/, each officer from the given Class received such an album at his graduation. Also their teachers and officers in the School received the same albums for the Classes they have been with. BTW, a couple of classes did not have such albums, because of the dramatic events in Bulgaria in 1944-45 - they graduated earlier /more than an year/ and were sent to the front against Germany - in fact got their first officer rank /podporuchyk/ right at the front. Later I will show some photos, will make a separate thread.

Also the NCO school, some units and etc. did have their own yearly albums, but the graduation albums of the Military of H.M. School were the nicest.

And the second question - after the fall of the regime, the former officers /the "royal officers"/ established their organization - 1991 or 92 if not wrong. Unfortunately through all these years great many of them passed, but there are still people alive and the organization exists and works. It is not only for them, it is also opened for people sharing their ideas - love for the country, anticommunism, interest in history, etc. /like me, a member there /

Edited February 6, 2009 by Theodor

[Ulsterman]

ah-cool!

Do they perchance, have a members' badge/medal?

I bet their magazine is good-(if they have one).

[Theodor]

Yes, they have a membership badge. It is a copy of the royal times badge of the Reserve officers union. Here is mine.

And yes they have a magazine - 5-6 issues per year, and indeed it is interesting - a little recent news, some world history and most interesting for me - Bulgarian history and their own memories.

And here's their site - not the best possible work, but that's the way it is. And no English version, as far as I can see...

http://www.eamci.bg/vnvu/

Edited February 6, 2009 by Theodor

[coldstream]

A few more photographs from this album. Unfortunately the only inscriptions in the album are year dates and so I can't confirm if the man in post 1 is indeed the one described by Theodor.

[coldstream]

Evening dress with qualification badge in wear.

[coldstream]

Another unknown Officer.

[Theodor]

Evening dress with qualification badge in wear.

I recognize well those stairs - in the Central Military Club in Sofia, a nice old building.

[Theodor]

Very nice photos you have! Please excuse me for hijacking your thread, but you said you'd like to see some things, so I will post a few photo and after some days - some objects

First, in the winter of 1943/44, a brave Bulgarian fighter! The Air Force utilized nearly a hundred French De.520 against the USAAF "Fortresses" B-17 and B-24, escorted by P-38 and later P-51. Not the brightest idea, but beside the Me-109, the Dewoitines were the only other -quite- modern fighter available. And it was used surprisingly well! Though a bit obsolete and with not too much armed, the aircraft fought very well, sustaining low losses and relatively good results against the incoming Allies.

Ok, this is not the pilot As written on the back, this is the technician of his aircraft, who has put the parachute and bonnet for a heroic photo :cheers:

Edited February 7, 2009 by Theodor

[coldstream]

Excellent photo Theodor. Please post more as your time allows :cheers:

[Theodor]

From the same group - the Dewotines have just been delivered to the Fighter Regiment, still in German markings

[Theodor]

Again the same fighter pilots, in the back is seen Avia B-534 fighter. Believe it or not, these old, slow and armed only with machineguns aircraft were the first to make a contact with US heavy bombers! In August 1943 such fighters met a group of B-24, on mission to the Romanian oil fields. The old fighters could not shoot down a bomber - they were not faster than the bombers! Fortunately the bombers did not have yet escort in these early missions. But later that day, the bombers returning from Romania were intercepted by the modern Me-109 fighters, which scored the first 4 victories for the Bulgarian air force.

[coldstream]

Again superb photos Theodor, thank you

[Theodor]

A few more. 1937, with the Do-11 /I have heard, 12 of these plus 12 Arado-65 fighters were a gift from Goring to king Boris/.

[Theodor]

1941, pilots with an Arado-96

[Theodor]

Combat duty

[Theodor]

It was a real war - the debris from a "fortress"

[Theodor]

Some ground soldiers are allowed to play with Luftwaffe toys /the photo is from the times of the Balkan campaign, when massive Luftwaffe forces operated from Bulgarian airfields/.

[Theodor]

The late summer of 1943, some ritual at the 5th Bomber Regiment, Plovdiv airfield.

[Theodor]

The 1936 service uniform

[Theodor]

and the parade uniform

[coldstream]

Theodor, again superb photos, thanks for showing them.

In your photo in post 39 the aircraft has the Military Order for Bravery painted on the fuselage. Is there a date on the photo, it was my understanding that this marking was replaced pre war to the black saltire on a white square background?

[coldstream]

Sorry Theodor, must be going blind, I've just realized you have put 1937. :rolleyes:

[Theodor]

Showed some photos, now a material thing - the Parade uniform that I have.

Unfortunately missing the boards, but I hope to find at last

Edited February 10, 2009 by Theodor

[Theodor]

Closer