Bulgarian National Front
Encyclopedia
The Bulgarian National Front (Bulgarian
:Български Национален Фронт (Bulgarski natsionalen front) or BNF) was an anti-communist political movement active amongst emigrant Bulgarian
populations. The group, which was active in a number of countries but not in Bulgaria itself, has been characterised as far right
and a continuation of earlier fascist
movements.
, Germany
in 1947 by Bulgarians living in exile in the city under the leadership of Ivan Dochev
. The group's stated aim was to oppose communism
in Bulgaria and influence western opinion against the communist regime, whilst also seeking to build up activism amongst émigrés. The group's membership was mostly made up of former members of the Union of Bulgarian National Legions
, many of whom had collaborated with Nazi Germany
. Before long the BNF had established branches in the United States
, Western Europe
and South America
as well as Dochev's base of Canada
. Their main journal was Svoboda, a mulitlingual publication which first appeared in Germany in 1959 before moving to Canada in 1970.
that was established in 1969. The Bulgarian National Committee, a conservative
émigré group, warned against allowing the BNF to be involved in this group, denouncing them as fascist although Richard Nixon
's administration did not move against them and the BNF's Radi Slavoff served as executive director of the Council. In 1984 Dochev stepped aside as leader in favour of George Paprikoff and under Paprikoff the BNF became more involved in Republican Party politics, campaigning for Ronald Reagan
and writing in support of him in their journal Borba.
The BNF was also a member of the of the Coalition for Peace Through Strength (CPTS), an ad hoc lobby group of the American Security Council opposed to nuclear disarmament
as well as the World Anti-Communist League
.
In Canada the BNF gained attention for the protests it held in Toronto
in 1971 against a visit by Alexei Kosygin, a rally held in Ottawa
in 1976 and annual masses held on 9 September, the date of the establishment of the People's Republic of Bulgaria, to commemmorate Bulgarian war dead.
. As an overseas based organisation the BNF is still active from its base in Chicago
.
Bulgarian political party in 1994. Closely linked to Bulgaria's version of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization this new BNF, which frequently publishes works in praise of the Union of Bulgarian National Legions and other extremist groups of that era, has found little political support with its vote share in the 2001 election
being barely negligible.
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...
:Български Национален Фронт (Bulgarski natsionalen front) or BNF) was an anti-communist political movement active amongst emigrant Bulgarian
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...
populations. The group, which was active in a number of countries but not in Bulgaria itself, has been characterised as far right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
and a continuation of earlier fascist
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
movements.
Organisation
The BNF was formed in MunichMunich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1947 by Bulgarians living in exile in the city under the leadership of Ivan Dochev
Ivan Dochev
Ivan Dimitrov Dochev was a Bulgarian far right politician active either side of the Second World War.-Early years:Born in Shumen the son of an army colonel, Dochev worked in the civil service from 1926 to 1932 when he went to Sofia University to study law and politics...
. The group's stated aim was to oppose communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
in Bulgaria and influence western opinion against the communist regime, whilst also seeking to build up activism amongst émigrés. The group's membership was mostly made up of former members of the Union of Bulgarian National Legions
Union of Bulgarian National Legions
The Union of Bulgarian National Legions was a fascist organization in Bulgaria that was formed in 1933.Also known as the Legionnaires’ Association, the movement was founded and led by Hristo Lukov, a Bulgarian army general who had commanded the 13th Division during the closing days of World War I...
, many of whom had collaborated with 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...
. Before long the BNF had established branches in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
as well as Dochev's base of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Their main journal was Svoboda, a mulitlingual publication which first appeared in Germany in 1959 before moving to Canada in 1970.
North American activities
The group was associated with the Republican Heritage Groups Council, a formalised development of the "Ethnic Division" of the Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
that was established in 1969. The Bulgarian National Committee, a conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
émigré group, warned against allowing the BNF to be involved in this group, denouncing them as fascist although Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
's administration did not move against them and the BNF's Radi Slavoff served as executive director of the Council. In 1984 Dochev stepped aside as leader in favour of George Paprikoff and under Paprikoff the BNF became more involved in Republican Party politics, campaigning for Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and writing in support of him in their journal Borba.
The BNF was also a member of the of the Coalition for Peace Through Strength (CPTS), an ad hoc lobby group of the American Security Council opposed to nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament refers to both the act of reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons and to the end state of a nuclear-free world, in which nuclear weapons are completely eliminated....
as well as the World Anti-Communist League
World Anti-Communist League
The World League for Freedom and Democracy is an international anti-communist political organization founded in 1966 in Taipei, Republic of China , under the initiative of Chiang Kai-shek. It was founded with the aim of opposing Communism around the world through "unconventional" methods...
.
In Canada the BNF gained attention for the protests it held in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1971 against a visit by Alexei Kosygin, a rally held in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
in 1976 and annual masses held on 9 September, the date of the establishment of the People's Republic of Bulgaria, to commemmorate Bulgarian war dead.
Post-communism
Following the collapse of communism in Bulgaria the BNF became active in their homeland again, largely in support of the Union of Democratic ForcesUnion of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)
The Union of Democratic Forces is a political party in Bulgaria, founded in 1989 as a union of several political organizations in opposition to the communist government. In February 1997 the Union was transformed into a single unified party with the same name...
. As an overseas based organisation the BNF is still active from its base in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
Splinter group
A separate group using the same name and led by former BNF activist Nikola Altunkov established itself as a far rightFar right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
Bulgarian political party in 1994. Closely linked to Bulgaria's version of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization this new BNF, which frequently publishes works in praise of the Union of Bulgarian National Legions and other extremist groups of that era, has found little political support with its vote share in the 2001 election
Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2001
Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 17 June 2001. The result was a victory for the National Movement – Simeon II, which won 120 of the 240 seats. Voter turnout was 67.0%...
being barely negligible.