Hristo Lukov

Hristo Lukov
Born January 6, 1887
Varna, Kingdom of Bulgaria
Died February 13, 1943(1943-02-13) (aged 56)
Sofia, Kingdom of Bulgaria

Hristo Nikolov Lukov (Bulgarian: Христо Николов Луков) (January 6, 1887 in Varna – February 13, 1943) was a Bulgarian lieutenant-general and politician, Minister of War, who led the nationalistic Union of Bulgarian National Legions (UBNL).

He was a commander of the Army School of Artillery, of the Training Section of the General Staff's Artillery Inspection, of 2nd, 3rd Infantry divisions and Minister of War. During the Second World War he was a supporter of the Axis powers, particularly Nazi Germany. Abroad he is incorrectly thought to be the commander of the 13th Infantry division during World War I. In fact that was major-general Hristo Tsonev Lukov, a native of Gabrovo. Hristo Nikolov Lukov was promoted during World War I to the rank of a major and a commander of an artillery battalion.

Due to his close relations with the Third Reich[1][2][3] and his activities as leader of UBNL, Lukov is considered also as a promoter of antisemitic ideas.[4] In the 21st century the neo-nazi Bulgarian National Union is hosting the annual so-called Lukov March in Sofia since 2003 to commemorate "fallen heroes of Bulgaria", which has caused controversy.

Lukov was assassinated by Communist partisans on the 13th of February 1943 in Sofia. According to the book "In the name of the people",[5] he was ambushed by two people in front of his apartment in Sofia. Although struck by one bullet, he fought back one of the partisans, Ivan Burudzhiev, but the second one, Violeta Yakova, fired two more shots and killed him.

Since some years, Neo-nazi groups are honoring Lukov every year with a torch march in February.[6]

Awards and decorations

See also

Sources

References

  1. ↑ Miller, L. (1975). Bulgaria during the Second World War. Stanford: Stanford University Press, pp. 73-5. ISBN 0-8047-0870-3
  2. ↑ Chary, F. B. (1972). The Bulgarian Jews and the Final Solution, 1940-1944. London: University of Pittsburgh Press, pp. 8-9. ISBN 0-8229-8443-1
  3. ↑ Chary, F. B. (2011). The history of Bulgaria. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, pp. 81-2. ISBN 0-313-38446-0
  4. ↑ Press Release, Sofia, 12 February 2011: European Network against Racism insists "Lukov March" to be canceled, www.Enar-EU.org, 12 February 2011, retrieved 23 January 2017, On 11 February 2011 Secretariat of European Network against Racism (ENAR) in Brussels sent a letter to Mrs. Jordanka Fandakova, the Mayor of Sofia Municipality. With this letter ENAR insists the Lukov March scheduled for tomorrow (12 February 2011) to be canceled. ENAR also is calling on the Municipality of Sofia to forbid such public demonstrations of racial and neo-Nazi ideas in the futures. [...]
  5. ↑ In the name of the people, a book by Mitka Grabcheva, pp 187-194, in Bulgarian
  6. ↑ Sofia Globe, Sofia, 18 February 2017: European Network against Racism insists "Lukov March" to be canceled, retrieved 23 February 2017
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