68th Special Forces Brigade (Bulgaria)
Encyclopedia
The 68th Special Forces Brigade (Bulgarian
: 68-а бригада Специални Сили) is a special operations formation of the Bulgarian Land Forces
. The 68th SF Brigade is also Bulgaria
's principal paratrooper
unit and includes the 101st Alpine Battalion, which has participated in all conflicts involving Bulgaria.
It was established in 1942 under the name Parashutna druzhina ("Paratrooper battalion"), its initial personnel being 350 soldiers, who received their training in Nazi Germany
. It was first thrown in combat in 1944, when Bulgaria already changed its allegiance from the Axis to the Allies and the Soviet Union
. The Parashutna druzhina fought with the Wehrmacht
in Macedonia
and the 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen
, achieving several victories.
The 68th SF Brigade adopted its current structure in 1975, and until 1989 it participated in all Warsaw Pact
multi-national exercises.
In modern times, most of Bulgaria's deployments during the Iraq War and the ongoing Afghanistan
conflict came either from 68th or 61st Stryamska Mechanized Brigade
units.
Bulgarian language
Bulgarian is an Indo-European language, a member of the Slavic linguistic group.Bulgarian, along with the closely related Macedonian language, demonstrates several linguistic characteristics that set it apart from all other Slavic languages such as the elimination of case declension, the...
: 68-а бригада Специални Сили) is a special operations formation of the Bulgarian Land Forces
Bulgarian land forces
The Bulgarian Land Forces are one of the service branches of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. Their existence is to be traced back to the establishment of the First Bulgarian Empire in 681. In more recent history the Land Forces have played an active role in the Bulgarian participation in the Balkan...
. The 68th SF Brigade is also Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
's principal paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
unit and includes the 101st Alpine Battalion, which has participated in all conflicts involving Bulgaria.
It was established in 1942 under the name Parashutna druzhina ("Paratrooper battalion"), its initial personnel being 350 soldiers, who received their training in Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. It was first thrown in combat in 1944, when Bulgaria already changed its allegiance from the Axis to the Allies and the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. The Parashutna druzhina fought with the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
in Macedonia
Macedonia (region)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as...
and the 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen
7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen
The 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen. was formed on March 1942 from Volksdeutsche volunteers from Vojvodina, Croatia, Hungary and Romania, it was initially called the SS-Freiwilligen-Division Prinz Eugen....
, achieving several victories.
The 68th SF Brigade adopted its current structure in 1975, and until 1989 it participated in all Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
multi-national exercises.
In modern times, most of Bulgaria's deployments during the Iraq War and the ongoing Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
conflict came either from 68th or 61st Stryamska Mechanized Brigade
61st Stryamska Mechanized Brigade
61st Stryamska Mechanized Infantry Brigade is a mechanized infantry brigade of the Bulgarian land forces.It is based in Karlovo, central Bulgaria....
units.