Ferdinand Kozovski
Encyclopedia
Ferdinand Todorov Kozovski was a Bulgaria
n communist
politician and Lieutenant General
in the Bulgarian Army who served as Chairman of the National Assembly of Bulgaria
from 1950 to 1965.
Born in Knezha
in the Principality of Bulgaria
's northwest, Ferdinand Kozovski graduated from the Reserve Officers Academy. He became a member of the Bulgarian Workers' Social Democratic Party (Narrow Socialists), the precursor to the Bulgarian Communist Party
, in 1911. Kozovski took part in the Balkan Wars
and World War I
as a serviceman in the Bulgarian Army; after the wars, he graduated in law from Sofia University
.
In 1923, Kozovski was among the leaders of the quickly-crushed June Uprising
, a chaotic agrarian uprising against the right-wing 9 June coup d'état
; he also participated in the better-organized communist September Uprising
of the same year. After that uprising's suppression, Kozovski was forced to emigrate to the Soviet Union
, where he graduated from the Frunze Military Academy
and became a reader of military science
at the Communist University of the National Minorities of the West
.
Ferdinand Kozovski took part in the International Brigades
of the Spanish Civil War
(1936–1939). During World War II
, he headed the Bulgarian edition of Radio Moscow and edited several illegal publications. He returned to Bulgaria after the Soviet invasion in 1944 and the 9 September coup d'état
. As Bulgaria switched allegiance to the Allies
and took part in the ultimate defeat of Nazi Germany
, Kozovski was assistant chief of staff of the Bulgarian forces which drew the Nazis out of much of Yugoslavia
and Hungary
.
After the war, Ferdinand Kozovski was made Assistant Minister of Popular Defence. In 1948–1949, he was Bulgarian minister plenipotentiary in the People's Republic of Hungary
. From 1949 to 1950 he held the same position as a Bulgarian diplomat in the People's Republic of China
. In 1950, he became Chairman of the National Assembly of Bulgaria
and served as such during four national assembly terms until 1965, when he died.
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...
n communist
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...
politician and Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
in the Bulgarian Army who served as Chairman of the National Assembly of Bulgaria
Chairman of the National Assembly of Bulgaria
The Chairperson of the National Assembly of Bulgaria presides the Bulgarian Parliament...
from 1950 to 1965.
Born in Knezha
Knezha
Knezha is a town in Pleven Province, Northern Bulgaria. It is the administrative center of the homonymous Knezha Municipality. As of December 2009, the town has a population of 11,191 inhabitants....
in the Principality of Bulgaria
Principality of Bulgaria
The Principality of Bulgaria was a self-governing entity created as a vassal of the Ottoman Empire by the Treaty of Berlin in 1878. The preliminary treaty of San Stefano between the Russian Empire and the Porte , on March 3, had originally proposed a significantly larger Bulgarian territory: its...
's northwest, Ferdinand Kozovski graduated from the Reserve Officers Academy. He became a member of the Bulgarian Workers' Social Democratic Party (Narrow Socialists), the precursor to the Bulgarian Communist Party
Bulgarian Communist Party
The Bulgarian Communist Party was the communist and Marxist-Leninist ruling party of the People's Republic of Bulgaria from 1946 until 1990 when the country ceased to be a communist state...
, in 1911. Kozovski took part in the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
and World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as a serviceman in the Bulgarian Army; after the wars, he graduated in law from Sofia University
Sofia University
The St. Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia or Sofia University is the oldest higher education institution in Bulgaria, founded on 1 October 1888...
.
In 1923, Kozovski was among the leaders of the quickly-crushed June Uprising
Bulgarian coup d'état of 1923
The Bulgarian coup d'état of 1923, also known as the 9 June coup d'état , was a coup d'état in Bulgaria implemented by armed forces under General Ivan Valkov's Military Union on the eve of 9 June 1923...
, a chaotic agrarian uprising against the right-wing 9 June coup d'état
Bulgarian coup d'état of 1923
The Bulgarian coup d'état of 1923, also known as the 9 June coup d'état , was a coup d'état in Bulgaria implemented by armed forces under General Ivan Valkov's Military Union on the eve of 9 June 1923...
; he also participated in the better-organized communist September Uprising
September Uprising
The September Uprising was an armed insurgency staged in September 1923 by the Bulgarian Communist Party under Comintern pressure, as an attempt to overthrow the Democratic Accord government of Bulgaria that had come to power with the coup d'état of June 9. Besides its communist base, the...
of the same year. After that uprising's suppression, Kozovski was forced to emigrate to 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....
, where he graduated from the Frunze Military Academy
Soviet military academies
There were/are a number of military academies in the Soviet Union/Russia of different specialties.Unlike Western military academies such as West Point, Soviet, now Russian, military and police institutions referred to as "academy" are post-graduate professional military schools for experienced...
and became a reader of military science
Military science
Military science is the process of translating national defence policy to produce military capability by employing military scientists, including theorists, researchers, experimental scientists, applied scientists, designers, engineers, test technicians, and military personnel responsible for...
at the Communist University of the National Minorities of the West
Communist University of the National Minorities of the West
The Communist University of the National Minorities of the West , was created by a 28 November 1921 decree of the Council of People's Commissars and charged with training party cadres from the western regions of Russia and the Volga Germans.In...
.
Ferdinand Kozovski took part in the International Brigades
International Brigades
The International Brigades were military units made up of volunteers from different countries, who traveled to Spain to defend the Second Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939....
of the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
(1936–1939). During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he headed the Bulgarian edition of Radio Moscow and edited several illegal publications. He returned to Bulgaria after the Soviet invasion in 1944 and the 9 September coup d'état
Bulgarian coup d'état of 1944
The Bulgarian coup d'état of 1944, also known as the 9 September coup d'état and called in pre-1989 Bulgaria the National Uprising of 9 September or the Socialist Revolution of 9 September was a change in the Kingdom of Bulgaria's administration and government carried out on the eve of 9 September...
. As Bulgaria switched allegiance to the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
and took part in the ultimate defeat of 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...
, Kozovski was assistant chief of staff of the Bulgarian forces which drew the Nazis out of much of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
After the war, Ferdinand Kozovski was made Assistant Minister of Popular Defence. In 1948–1949, he was Bulgarian minister plenipotentiary in the People's Republic of Hungary
People's Republic of Hungary
The People's Republic of Hungary or Hungarian People's Republic was the official state name of Hungary from 1949 to 1989 during its Communist period under the guidance of the Soviet Union. The state remained in existence until 1989 when opposition forces consolidated in forcing the regime to...
. From 1949 to 1950 he held the same position as a Bulgarian diplomat in the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. In 1950, he became Chairman of the National Assembly of Bulgaria
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 served as such during four national assembly terms until 1965, when he died.