Bulgarian coup d'état of 1934
Encyclopedia
The Bulgarian coup d'état of 1934, also known as the 19 May coup d'état , was a coup d'état
in the Kingdom of Bulgaria
carried out by the Zveno
military organization and the Military Union with the aid of the Bulgarian Army. It overthrew the government of the wide Popular Bloc coalition and replaced it with one under Kimon Georgiev
.
The Popular Bloc, which had held power since 1934, consisted of the Democratic Party
, Bulgarian Agrarian National Union
(BANU) "Vrabcha 1", the National Liberal Party and the Radical Democratic Party
. Although it did not abolish the restrictive laws introduced by the former government of the Democratic Accord and it did not change the way the police functioned, it was met with hostility from right-wing forces such as the Military Union (led by Damyan Velchev
, Zveno and Aleksandar Tsankov
's Popular Social Movement, of which the most active were the Zveno activists.
After a Military Union congress in November 1933, direct preparations for the coup began, with the plotters attempting to win the support of BANU "Vrabcha 1", BANU "Aleksandar Stamboliyski
" and even the Democratic Party, but in vain. Taking advantage of the discord in the Popular Bloc in the spring of 1934, the Zveno activists carried out the coup on the eve of 19 May, ahead of Aleksandar Tsankov's supporters, who had planned a coup for 20 May. The coup installed a government under Kimon Georgiev which, besides Zveno members, also included right-wing agrarians
and National Social Movement members, while the most important ministry positions were held by the Military Union.
The coup was not well received by the other political parties, but they were unable to oppose it effectively. The plotters also had no wide popular support and relied solely on the aid of the army. The new government temporarily abolished the Tarnovo Constitution
, dissolved the National Assembly
and banned political parties, revolutionary organizations and trade unions. A new governmental system was introduced wherein the central authority would appoint mayors and would establish state trade unions. Additionally, measures were adopted to deal with the workers' and socialist
movement in the country. A state monopoly was introduced, which affected the interests of the big companies.
In foreign policy, the regime's most notable act was to establish diplomatic relations with the USSR
on 23 July 1934 and orient Bulgaria towards France
. Since part of the Zveno activists and the Military Union were republicans
, the regime had a certain anti-monarchist direction, which is why Tsar Boris III
did not welcome the coup. With the aid of faithful Military Union officers, the tsar forced Kimon Georgiev to resign in January 1935 and appointed Pencho Zlatev in his place. From that point, the tsar had total control over the country, a state which would last until his death in 1943.
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
in the Kingdom of Bulgaria
Kingdom of Bulgaria
The Kingdom of Bulgaria was established as an independent state when the Principality of Bulgaria, an Ottoman vassal, officially proclaimed itself independent on October 5, 1908 . This move also formalised the annexation of the Ottoman province of Eastern Rumelia, which had been under the control...
carried out by the Zveno
Zveno
Zveno was a Bulgarian military and political organization, founded in 1927 by army officers. It was associated with a newspaper of that name....
military organization and the Military Union with the aid of the Bulgarian Army. It overthrew the government of the wide Popular Bloc coalition and replaced it with one under Kimon Georgiev
Kimon Georgiev
Colonel General Kimon Georgiev Stoyanov was a Bulgarian general and prime minister.Born at Pazardzhik, Kimon Georgiev graduated from the Sofia military academy in 1902. He participated in the Balkan Wars as a company commander and in the First World War as a commander of a battalion. In 1916 he...
.
The Popular Bloc, which had held power since 1934, consisted of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Bulgaria)
The Democratic Party is a center-right party in Bulgaria led by Alexander Pramatarski. It is part of the United Democratic Forces. The United Democratic Forces won in the 2001 elections 18.2 % of the popular vote and 51 out of 240 seats...
, Bulgarian Agrarian National Union
Bulgarian Agrarian National Union
Bulgarian Agrarian National Union also tiranslated to English as Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union is a political party devoted to representing the causes of the Bulgarian peasantry. It was most powerful between 1900 and 1923. In practice, it was an agrarian movement...
(BANU) "Vrabcha 1", the National Liberal Party and the Radical Democratic Party
Radical Democratic Party (Bulgaria)
The Radical Democratic Party is a liberal party in Bulgaria. The party was founded in 1902 by Naičo Canov and other dissidents from the Democratic Party. It was banned in 1934, revived in 1944 and again banned in 1949....
. Although it did not abolish the restrictive laws introduced by the former government of the Democratic Accord and it did not change the way the police functioned, it was met with hostility from right-wing forces such as the Military Union (led by Damyan Velchev
Damyan Velchev
Damian Velchev was a Bulgarian politician and military man.In 1930, he became a member of a pro-Zveno group. In 1934, he was the leader of the pro-Zveno coup, but did not become a minister and stayed in the background. After the counter-coup in 1935, Velchev fled abroad, but later slipped back...
, Zveno and Aleksandar Tsankov
Aleksandar Tsankov
Aleksander Tsolov Tsankov was a leading Bulgarian right wing politician between the two World Wars.-Biography:...
's Popular Social Movement, of which the most active were the Zveno activists.
After a Military Union congress in November 1933, direct preparations for the coup began, with the plotters attempting to win the support of BANU "Vrabcha 1", BANU "Aleksandar Stamboliyski
Aleksandar Stamboliyski
Aleksandar Stamboliyski was the prime minister of Bulgaria from 1919 until 1923. Stamboliyski was a member of the Agrarian Union, an agrarian peasant movement which was not allied to the monarchy, and edited their newspaper...
" and even the Democratic Party, but in vain. Taking advantage of the discord in the Popular Bloc in the spring of 1934, the Zveno activists carried out the coup on the eve of 19 May, ahead of Aleksandar Tsankov's supporters, who had planned a coup for 20 May. The coup installed a government under Kimon Georgiev which, besides Zveno members, also included right-wing agrarians
Agrarianism
Agrarianism has two common meanings. The first meaning refers to a social philosophy or political philosophy which values rural society as superior to urban society, the independent farmer as superior to the paid worker, and sees farming as a way of life that can shape the ideal social values...
and National Social Movement members, while the most important ministry positions were held by the Military Union.
The coup was not well received by the other political parties, but they were unable to oppose it effectively. The plotters also had no wide popular support and relied solely on the aid of the army. The new government temporarily abolished the Tarnovo Constitution
Tarnovo Constitution
The Tarnovo Constitution was the first constitution of Bulgaria. It was adopted on 16 April 1879 by the Constituent National Assembly held in Veliko Tarnovo as part of the establishment of the Principality of Bulgaria...
, dissolved the National Assembly
National Assembly of Bulgaria
The National Assembly of Bulgaria is the unicameral parliament and body of the legislative of the Republic of Bulgaria.The National Assembly of Bulgaria was established in 1879 with the Constitution of Bulgaria.-Ordinary National Assembly:...
and banned political parties, revolutionary organizations and trade unions. A new governmental system was introduced wherein the central authority would appoint mayors and would establish state trade unions. Additionally, measures were adopted to deal with the workers' and socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
movement in the country. A state monopoly was introduced, which affected the interests of the big companies.
In foreign policy, the regime's most notable act was to establish diplomatic relations with the USSR
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....
on 23 July 1934 and orient Bulgaria towards France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Since part of the Zveno activists and the Military Union were republicans
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
, the regime had a certain anti-monarchist direction, which is why Tsar Boris III
Boris III of Bulgaria
Boris III the Unifier, Tsar of Bulgaria , originally Boris Klemens Robert Maria Pius Ludwig Stanislaus Xaver , son of Ferdinand I, came to the throne in 1918 upon the abdication of his father, following the defeat of the Kingdom of Bulgaria during World War I...
did not welcome the coup. With the aid of faithful Military Union officers, the tsar forced Kimon Georgiev to resign in January 1935 and appointed Pencho Zlatev in his place. From that point, the tsar had total control over the country, a state which would last until his death in 1943.