Kimon Georgiev
Encyclopedia
Colonel General
Kimon Georgiev Stoyanov (August 11, 1882 – September 28, 1969) was a Bulgaria
n 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 lost an eye due to injuries received in action
. He left the army in 1920 with the rank of lieutenant colonel
.
Georgiev was one of the founders of the Military Union in 1919 and the People's Alliance
in 1922. He participated in the organization of the 1923 coup d'état
and after that became one of the leaders of the Democratic Alliance
. He was the minister for railways, postal service and telegraphs in the first cabinet of Andrey Lyapchev.
In the 1930s he became one of the leaders of the right-wing military Zveno
('Link') movement. Together with fellow officers he committed a coup d'état
in May 1934 and became prime minister. He was also justice minister and for a short time minister of war and foreign affairs. He abolished all political parties and trade unions. Influenced by the Italian dictator
Benito Mussolini
he introduced a corporative economic system
. In 1935 Tsar Boris III forced him to resign. During World War II
, when Bulgaria was fighting on the side of the Axis
, he grew close to the left wing forces in Bulgaria and in 1943 he joined the anti-Axis Fatherland Front
(FF) as one of its leaders. In September 1944 the FF committed a coup d'état
and Georgiev became again prime minister. In 1946 he was succeeded by the communist leader Georgi Dimitrov
and became vice-premier and Foreign Minister. Though Zveno
was disbanded in 1949, Georgiev continued holding ministerial posts in all the cabinets until 1962. From 1962 until his death in 1969 he was a member of the Parliament's presidium. Georgiev was twice awarded the title Hero of Socialist Labour.
He is known as "старият превратаджия" (the old coup-maker) in Bulgaria for organizing the three coups of 1923, 1934 and 1944.
Colonel General
Colonel General is a senior rank of General. North Korea and Russia are two countries which have used the rank extensively throughout their histories...
Kimon Georgiev Stoyanov (August 11, 1882 – September 28, 1969) was a 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...
n general and prime minister.
Born at Pazardzhik
Pazardzhik
Pazardzhik is a city situated along the banks of the Maritsa river, Southern Bulgaria. It is the capital of Pazardzhik Province and centre for the homonymous Pazardzhik Municipality...
, Kimon Georgiev graduated from the Sofia military academy in 1902. He participated 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...
as a company commander and in the First World War as a commander of a battalion. In 1916 he lost an eye due to injuries received in action
Wounded in action
Wounded in action describes soldiers who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during war time, but have not been killed. Typically it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing to fight....
. He left the army in 1920 with the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
.
Georgiev was one of the founders of the Military Union in 1919 and the People's Alliance
People's Alliance (Bulgaria)
The People's Alliance was a Bulgarian party created on 14 October 1921 by a group of non-party university teachers. Among its founders were Aleksandar Grekov, Aleksandar Tsankov, Petko Staynov, Dimitar Mishaykov and others....
in 1922. He participated in the organization of the 1923 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...
and after that became one of the leaders of the Democratic Alliance
Democratic Alliance (Bulgaria)
The Democratic Alliance was a Bulgarian party that existed between 1923 and 1934 when all parties were banned. During most of that period it was the ruling party in the country making it the third longest-ruling party in the country after the Bulgarian Communist Party and the People's Liberal...
. He was the minister for railways, postal service and telegraphs in the first cabinet of Andrey Lyapchev.
In the 1930s he became one of the leaders of the right-wing military 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....
('Link') movement. Together with fellow officers he committed a coup d'état
Bulgarian coup d'état of 1934
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...
in May 1934 and became prime minister. He was also justice minister and for a short time minister of war and foreign affairs. He abolished all political parties and trade unions. Influenced by the Italian dictator
Dictator
A dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power but without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship...
Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
he introduced a corporative economic system
Corporatism
Corporatism, also known as corporativism, is a system of economic, political, or social organization that involves association of the people of society into corporate groups, such as agricultural, business, ethnic, labor, military, patronage, or scientific affiliations, on the basis of common...
. In 1935 Tsar Boris III forced him to resign. 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...
, when Bulgaria was fighting on the side of the Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
, he grew close to the left wing forces in Bulgaria and in 1943 he joined the anti-Axis Fatherland Front
Fatherland Front (Bulgaria)
The Fatherland Front was originally a Bulgarian political resistance movement during World War II. The Zveno movement, the communist Bulgarian Workers Party, a wing of the Agrarian Union and the Bulgarian Social Democratic Workers Party, were all part of the FF...
(FF) as one of its leaders. In September 1944 the FF committed a 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...
and Georgiev became again prime minister. In 1946 he was succeeded by the communist leader Georgi Dimitrov
Georgi Dimitrov
Georgi Dimitrov Mikhaylov , also known as Georgi Mikhaylovich Dimitrov , was a Bulgarian Communist politician...
and became vice-premier and Foreign Minister. Though 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....
was disbanded in 1949, Georgiev continued holding ministerial posts in all the cabinets until 1962. From 1962 until his death in 1969 he was a member of the Parliament's presidium. Georgiev was twice awarded the title Hero of Socialist Labour.
He is known as "старият превратаджия" (the old coup-maker) in Bulgaria for organizing the three coups of 1923, 1934 and 1944.