Georgi Todorov (general)

Georgi Stoyanov Todorov
Georgi Stoyanov Todorov
Born	10 August 1858; Bolgrad, Principality of Moldavia
Died	16 November 1934 (aged 76); Sofia, Bulgaria
Allegiance	Tsardom of Bulgaria
Service / branch	Bulgarian Army
Years of service	1877–1919
Rank	General
Commands	Seventh Rila Infantry Division; Second Bulgarian Army; Third Bulgarian Army; Commander-in-chief
Battles / wars	Russo-Turkish War; Serbo-Bulgarian War; Balkan Wars Battle of Bulair; Battle of Kalimantsi; ; First World War Battle of Ovche Pole; Battle of Dobro Pole; ;
Awards

Georgi Stoyanov Todorov (Bulgarian: Георги Тодоров) (born on 10 August 1858 in Bolgrad; died on 16 November 1934 in Sofia) was a Bulgarian general who fought in the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), Serbo-Bulgarian War (1885), Balkan Wars (1912–1913) and First World War (1914–1918).

Biography

At the age of 19, he volunteered in the Bulgarian Corps (Opalchentsi) during the Russo-Turkish Liberation War. After the liberation, he graduated the first course of the Military School in Sofia (1879). In 1882, he entered the Sankt Peterburg Academy but could not graduate it because he returned for the Unification of Bulgaria in 1885 and took part in the war that followed immediately after it. During the war against Serbia, he commanded a unit which fought successfully against the enemy in the area of Vidin and Kula.

After the war, he participated in the dethroning of Alexander I and was dismissed from the Army in 1886. Only a year later, he returned to office. On 13 August 1887, he was promoted to major. On 1 January 1896, Todorov became a colonel. He served in the Military School and as a chief of the Sevlievo garrison. On 1 January 1910 he was promoted major general and a commander of the Seventh Rila Infantry Division.

Balkan Wars

During the First Balkan War (1912–1913) as a commander of the Seventh Rila Infantry Division, he advanced towards Solun and on 26 January 1913 he defeated the Ottomans in the Battle of Bulair.

During the Second Balkan War (1913), he and his division participated in the Battle of Kalimantsi where the Serbs were defeated.

First World War

After the accession of Bulgaria in the First World War, he commanded the 2nd Army. He led the operations in Macedonia which ended with the defeat of the Serbs in the Battle of Ovche Pole. With that success, the Bulgarians did not allow the meeting of the Serbian Army and the Anglo-French forces who embarked in Solun. In February 1917, he was in command of the 3rd Army and defeated the Romanians in Dobrudzha. From 8 September 1918, he became commander-in-chief of the Bulgarian Army after the illness of General Nikola Zhekov. He participated in the Battle of Dobro Pole, which was the crucial Serbian victory in 1918. He was dismissed in 1919.^[1]

General Georgi Todorov died on 16 November 1934 in Sofia.^[1]

Honours and awards

Kingdom of Bulgaria: Order of Bravery, 2nd, 3rd and 4th classes
Kingdom of Bulgaria: Order of St Alexander, 1st class with Swords, 4th and 5th classes without swords
Kingdom of Bulgaria: Order of Military Merit, 1st class
Republic of Bulgaria: Order of Stara Planina, 1st grade with swords - awarded posthumously on 20 December 2012^[2]
German Empire: Pour le Mérite
German Empire: Iron Cross, 1st and 2nd classes
Ottoman Empire: Liakat Medal

References

^ ^a ^b Tucker, Spencer C. (2014). ""Todorov, Georgi"". In Tucker, Spencer C. (ed.). World War I: The Definitive Encyclopedia and Document Collection. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. p. 1554. ISBN 9781851099641.
^ Указ № 436 от 20 декември 2012 г. за награждаване посмъртно с орден „Стара планина“ първа степен с мечове на генерал-лейтенант Михаил Попов Савов (Държавен вестник, брой 2, 8.1.2013, стр. 3)

Азманов, Димитър. Български висши военоначалници през Балканската и Първата световна война, София 2000, с. 237
Коев, Илиян и др. Българо-турски военни отношения през Първата световна война. Сборник от документи (1914–1918), София 2004, с. 517