Damyan Velchev
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Damian Velchev (Velcev) 1883 - 1954 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 he didn't become a minister and stayed in the background. After the counter-coup (1935) Velchev fled abroad, but later slipped back into the country and was arrested. In 1936 he was sentenced to death, but his life was spared by King Boris III. In 1943 he joined the Fatherland Front, a pro-communist, anti-Axis resistance movement. In 1944 the Fatherland Front seized power and Velchev became Minister of Defence. In 1946 he resigned because of purges within the army. Later he became ambassador to Switzerland, but after a while he resigned and asked for political asylum. He stayed in Switzerland until his death.
