Capital None Languages Bulgarian 1944—1945 Aleksandar Tsankov Founded 1944 | Capital-in-exile Vienna Government Government-in-exile Established 16 September 1944 | |
The Bulgarian National Government-in-exile (Bulgarian: Българско национално правителство в изгнание) was a right-wing Bulgarian government-in-exile after the monarchist government of Bulgaria was deposed in a communist backed coup d'état on September 9, 1944, and was replaced by the communist Fatherland Front, which later formed the People's Republic of Bulgaria. The Bulgarian government in exile had very little support among Bulgarians and commanded Bulgarian troops loyal to the Germans. It was dissolved in May 1945, and its prime minister, the Bulgarian nationalist Aleksandar Tsankov, fled to Argentina.
Contents
History
On September 16, 1944, the right-wing leader Aleksandar Tsankov made a radio announcement stating that: "The fight for the liberation of Bulgaria from the Jewish-Bolshevik yoke is in secure hands. The Bulgarian National government calls on fight against the oppressors of our motherland". However, the Bulgarian government-in-exile under Tsankov had no international recognition.
On 13 November 1944, the government worked with the Waffen-SS to create a Bulgarian volunteer unit. This formation was known as the Bulgarian Grenadier Regiment and was planned to be expanded to a division. In the second half of November, its strength reached around 500 soldiers, 56 non-commissioned officers and 25 officers. Ivan Rogozarov, a minister in the government, served as the commander of the regiment. Morale was not very high. Soldiers were forced to plant potatoes in a nearby field due to ration shortages. In April 1945, Major Karanechev Costa led a group of soldiers in an attempt to desert. They were hunted down and caught by a mixed German-Bulgarian group. A firefight ensued, in which three deserters were killed.
In February 1945 the Bulgarian Government moved from Vienna to Altaussee and soon after dissolved, in May. After the Second World War Tsankov fled to Argentina and died in Belgrano, Buenos Aires, in 1959.
Ministers
Members of the government: