Nikola Genev Kolchev was a Bulgarian volunteer, officer, a lieutenant general, and a commander of the Macedonian-Adrianopolitan Volunteer Corps during the First Balkan War and the Second Balkan War.

Biography

Nikola Genev was born to a Bulgarian family on January 18, 1856, in Sevlievo and Ottoman Empire. He took part in the April Uprising of 1876 as a member of the revolutionary committee in his hometown. He was arrested and tortured by the Turks, and later managed to emigrate to Romania, after which he moved to Russia. Dimitrov, I., ''Saedinenieto 1885 - encyclopedic reference book'', Sofia, 1985, State Publishing House "Dr. Petar Beron", with 77

Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878)

During the preparation of the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878) he enlisted in the Bulgarian Volunteer Corps as a Volunteer from the III Volunteer Company. He took part in the Battle of Shipka Pass. For his personal bravery he was awarded the military Order of St. George, IV degree. At the end of the war he was promoted to the rank of junior non-commissioned officer. After the Liberation he entered the Military School in Sofia. He graduated from the first class in 1879. On May 10 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant . At his own request he was assigned to the III Radomir Infantry Company (inherited the III Company from the Bulgarian Volley). In 1883 he graduated from the Rifle Officer School in St. Petersburg .

Serbo-Bulgarian War

During the Serbo-Bulgarian War, Captain Genev was commander of the III Company of the II Struma Infantry Regiment from September 27, 1885, as well as commander of the Trun detachment. Despite its small composition, it was given the task of slowing down the Moravian Division, which was moving towards the Slivnitsa position. The detachment gained valuable time needed to further strengthen and replenish the army's fighting force. For his participation in the war he was awarded the Order of Bravery, IV st. From August 13, 1887, he was a senior officer with the rank of major, and in 1892 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. From 1893 to 1900 Nikola Genev was successively commander of the II Infantry Regiment, the XIX Shumen Infantry Regiment and the VII Preslav Infantry Regiment. From 1900 to 1904 he was commander of the 1st Brigade in the VI Bdina Infantry Division . On March 4, 1904, he was promoted to the rank of Major General. He voluntarily went to the reserves.

The Balkan Wars

During the First Balkan War, Major General Genev returned to the Bulgarian Land Forces. He was appointed commander of the Macedonian-Adrianopolitan Volunteer Corps, and from October 11, 1912, of the Kardzhali detachment . He took part in the fighting in Aegean Thrace, which ended with the capture of the corps of Yaver Pasha in November of that year. At the beginning of 1913, the militiamen under his command took part in the

Battle of Şarköy The Battle of Şarköy or Sarkoy operation ( bg, Битка при Шаркьой, tr, Şarköy Çıkarması) took place between 9 and 11 February 1913 during the First Balkan War between Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans attempted ...

, where they repulsed a large Turkish landing party. During the Second Balkan War in 1913, the militia waged military operations against the Serbs near Kochani and

Tsarevo Selo Tsarevo ( bg, Царево, , also transliterated as Carevo or Tzarevo) is a town and seaside resort in the Municipality of Tsarevo, Burgas Province, Bulgaria. Etymology In the past, it was known as Vasiliko ( el, Βασιλικόν), and b ...

. After the end of the war, Lieutenant General Nikola Genev again went into the reserves of the Bulgarian Land Forces. Nikola Genev was one of the officers who signed the protest letter to Tsar

Ferdinand I Ferdinand I or Fernando I may refer to: People * Ferdinand I of León, ''the Great'' (ca. 1000–1065, king from 1037) * Ferdinand I of Portugal and the Algarve, ''the Handsome'' (1345–1383, king from 1367) * Ferdinand I of Aragon and Sicily, '' ...

against Bulgaria's participation in the First World War on the side of the Central Powers and thus, resigned from military service. Lieutenant General Nikola Genev died on April 12, 1934, in Sofia.

Awards

* Order of Bravery, III grade, 2nd class *Order "For Courage" IV grade, 2nd class * Order of Saint Alexander *

Stara Planina The Balkan mountain range (, , known locally also as Stara planina) is a mountain range in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula in Southeastern Europe. The range is conventionally taken to begin at the peak of Vrashka Chuka on the border betw ...

, I degree with swords, posthumously Decree № 436 of 20 December 2012 Promulgated. DV. issue 2 of January 8, 2013

Foreign Awards

*: Order of St. George, IV degree

References

Bibliography

* Dimitrov, I., ''The Union 1885 - encyclopedic reference book'', Sofia, 1985, State Publishing House "Dr. Peter Beron", p. 77 * Nedev, S., '' The Command of the Bulgarian Army during the Wars of National Unification'', Sofia, 1993, Military Publishing Complex "St. George the Victorious" * {{DEFAULTSORT:Genev, Nikola Bulgarian generals Bulgarian military personnel of the Balkan Wars Bulgarian people of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) People of the Serbo-Bulgarian War 1856 births 1934 deaths People from the Ottoman Empire