Vladimir Vazov

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Vladimir Vazov

14 May 186820 May 1945
Place of birth Flag of Bulgaria Sopot, Bulgaria
Place of death Flag of Bulgaria Ribaritsa, Bulgaria
Allegiance Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria
Years of service 1888 - 1920
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands held 4th Artillery Regiment
Ninth Pleven Infantry Division
Battles/wars Adrianople
Chataldzha
Doiran

Vladimir Minchev Vazov (born May 14, 1868 in Sopot, died May 20, 1945) was a Bulgarian officer. He lead the Bulgarian forces during the successful defensive operation at Dojran during the First World War.

Vladimir Vazov was born May 14, 1868 to Mincho Vazov and Suba Hadjinikolova. His brothers were the writer Ivan Vazov, the officer Georgi Vazov and the politician Boris Vazov.

In 1886 Vladimir Vazov entered the Military School in Sofia. In 1888 he was allocated as a second lieutenant to the 5th artillery regiment in Shumen. During 1902-1903 he studied in a Russian artillery school. He took part in the First and Second Balkan War.

The most successful pages of his biography were written during the First World War. As a commander of the 9th Pleven Infantry he managed to hold the Dojran line against the greatly superior Greek and British forces.

On February 24, 1920 lieutenant-general Vazov went into the reserve. In 1926 becomes mayor of Sofia. During his mandate (until 1932) the fire department was reformed, the electrical network expanded, and the public transport improved. Sofia becomes one of the “greenest” capitals in Europe.

Among the most notable moments of Vladimir Vazov’s life was his visit to England in 1936. The British legion celebrates the British victory in World War I. Like real gentlemen the British veterans invited one of their worthiest opponents on the battlefield. They paid great honor to him as they even lowered the national flags in his name. The chairman of the British legion says in his speech: “He is one of the few foreign officers whose name figures in our history”.

The last years of his life were spent in the village of Ribarica (near Lovech), where he finally died in 1945.

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