Ivan Ivanov Bagryanov

Ivan Bagrianov Иван Багрянов
30th Prime Minister of Bulgaria
In office 1 June 1944 - 2 September 1944
Monarch	Simeon II
Preceded by	Dobri Bozhilov
Succeeded by	Konstantin Muraviev
Personal details
Born	(1891-10-29)29 October 1891 Razgrad, Bulgarian Kingdom
Died	1 February 1945(1945-02-01) (aged 53) Sofia, Bulgarian Kingdom
Political party	Non-Party

Ivan Ivanov Bagryanov (Bulgarian: Иван Иванов Багрянов) (1891 in Razgrad – 1945) was a leading Bulgarian politician who briefly served as Prime Minister during the Second World War.

After a career as a diplomat, he was chosen by the Council of Regents, who at the time had power in Bulgaria, to form a government capable of negotiating peace. In contrast to his predecessor, Dobri Bozhilov, Bagryanov was known for his largely pro-Western views. He saw his mission as removing Bulgaria from the war before the arrival of the Red Army and so attempted to open negotiations with the Western Allies.^[1] He also opened dialogue with Jewish leaders in an attempt to end anti-Jewish legislation.^[2] However, the coup by Michael I of Romania on August 23, 1944 severely damaged this plan as it ended effective Romanian resistance and allowed the Red Army a free hand to advance into Bulgaria. Bagryanov continued his drive to find separate peace, repudiating any alliance with Nazi Germany on August 26 and declaring neutrality, ending all anti-Jewish laws on August 29 (although it was officially ratified by the new government on September 5) and ordering the withdrawal of Bulgarian troops from Yugoslavian Macedonia. However, Bagryanov's insistence on neutrality, rather than declaring war on the Axis Powers, hamstrung negotiations with the Allies and he was removed from government. He was further damaged by the inclusion in his cabinet of a number of 1930s fascists such as Aleksandar Tsankov Staliyski.^[3] After the Communist-led Fatherland front came to power he was amongst those tried for war crimes and executed.

References