Vasil Kutinchev
Encyclopedia
Vasil Ivanov Kutinchev was a Bulgaria
n officer. He began his military career in 1879 after graduating from the Military School in Sofia
. On 13 September 1885 he was made commander of the 1st battalion of the 5th "Dunav" infantry regiment.
He took part in the Serbo-Bulgarian War
of the same year and on 8 November was promoted to commander of the 5th regiment. Captain Kutinchev fought in the Battle of Slivnitsa
, Dragoman, Tsarevbrod and Pirot.
After the war he served as commander of various infantry regiments and was promoted to Major General
in 1904. Four years latter Kutinchev was appointed commander of the First Army Region which comprised the western parts of Bulgaria
.
On 2 August 1912 Tsar Ferdinand in honour of the 25th anniversary of his arrival to Bulgaria promoted six Major General
s to the rank of Lieutenant General
. One of those generals was Kutinchev. This is the first time in the history of the Bulgarian Kingdom when such high ranks were awarded to officers of the Active Army. Until then it was given to officers of the reserve.
With the outbreak of the First Balkan War
General Kutinchev was made commander of the First Army which took part in the important battles of Kirk Kilisse
, Lule Burgas and Chataldzja.
After the end of that war the entire army had to be transferred to Northwestern Bulgaria
were during the Second Balkan War
it saw service against the Serbs. Meanwhile on 16 July 1913 Kutinchev took the command of Second Army. On this post he remained until the end of hostilities.
During the First World War he was a general in the General Staff of the Active Army and commander of the newly created Army Region of Morava. In one final act of recognition of his service in October 1918 Lieutenant General
Vasil Kutinchev was promoted to General of the Infantry which was the highest military rank in the Bulgarian Army and went into the reserve. He died in Sofia
in 1941.
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 officer. He began his military career in 1879 after graduating from the Military School in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
. On 13 September 1885 he was made commander of the 1st battalion of the 5th "Dunav" infantry regiment.
He took part in the Serbo-Bulgarian War
Serbo-Bulgarian War
The Serbo-Bulgarian War was a war between Serbia and Bulgaria that erupted on 14 November 1885 and lasted until 28 November the same year. Final peace was signed on 19 February 1886 in Bucharest...
of the same year and on 8 November was promoted to commander of the 5th regiment. Captain Kutinchev fought in the Battle of Slivnitsa
Battle of Slivnitsa
Called by historians the "Battle of the captains vs the generals," referring to the young Bulgarian army, whose highest rank went up to a captain, the Battle of Slivnitsa was a decisive factor in the victory of the Bulgarian army over the Serbians on November 17–19, 1885 in the...
, Dragoman, Tsarevbrod and Pirot.
After the war he served as commander of various infantry regiments and was promoted to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in 1904. Four years latter Kutinchev was appointed commander of the First Army Region which comprised the western parts of 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...
.
On 2 August 1912 Tsar Ferdinand in honour of the 25th anniversary of his arrival to Bulgaria promoted six Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
s to the rank of 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....
. One of those generals was Kutinchev. This is the first time in the history of the Bulgarian Kingdom when such high ranks were awarded to officers of the Active Army. Until then it was given to officers of the reserve.
With the outbreak of the First Balkan War
First Balkan War
The First Balkan War, which lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League against the Ottoman Empire. The combined armies of the Balkan states overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies and achieved rapid success...
General Kutinchev was made commander of the First Army which took part in the important battles of Kirk Kilisse
Battle of Kirk Kilisse
The Battle of Kirk Kilisse or Battle of Kirkkilise or Battle of Lozengrad was part of the First Balkan War between the armies of Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire. It took place on 24 October 1912, when the Bulgarian army defeated an Ottoman army in Eastern Thrace.The initial clashes were around...
, Lule Burgas and Chataldzja.
After the end of that war the entire army had to be transferred to Northwestern 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...
were during the Second Balkan War
Second Balkan War
The Second Balkan War was a conflict which broke out when Bulgaria, dissatisfied with its share of the spoils of the First Balkan War, attacked its former allies, Serbia and Greece, on 29 June 1913. Bulgaria had a prewar agreement about the division of region of Macedonia...
it saw service against the Serbs. Meanwhile on 16 July 1913 Kutinchev took the command of Second Army. On this post he remained until the end of hostilities.
During the First World War he was a general in the General Staff of the Active Army and commander of the newly created Army Region of Morava. In one final act of recognition of his service in October 1918 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....
Vasil Kutinchev was promoted to General of the Infantry which was the highest military rank in the Bulgarian Army and went into the reserve. He died in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
in 1941.