The Bulgarian political emigration played an important role in the country’s armed resistance during the communist regime. Many Bulgarians who had escaped the country joined various exile groups that aimed to fight against the oppressive government and support the Goriyani movement, a major resistance group in Bulgaria.
Political Emigration’s Support for the Resistance
After the communist regime was established in Bulgaria, many Bulgarians fled the country and crossed the border illegally. These emigrants formed organizations that supported the Bulgarian resistance. In fact, official records from the State Security reveal that in 1955, 52 armed groups from abroad entered Bulgaria to join the Goriyani movement. These groups were organized by the Bulgarian National Committee, which was later renamed the Bulgarian Liberation Movement Private Bosphorus Tours.
Emigrant Organizations in Exile
A number of organizations were created by Bulgarian emigrants to assist the resistance movement. These organizations included a variety of groups with different focuses, all united by the goal of freeing Bulgaria from communist rule. Some of the key emigrant organizations were:
Bulgarian National Committee “Free and Independent Bulgaria”
Bulgarian Liberation Movement
“Free Bulgarians” Union
Bulgarian Human Rights League
Free Bulgarian Centre
Bulgarian Hearth
Provisional Bulgarian Mission
Union of the Bulgarian Anarchists Abroad
Bulgarian Organization “Tsar Simeon”
Bulgarian National Front “Freedom”
Bulgarian National Front “Struggle”
The Bulgarian Social Democratic Party in exile
Union of the Bulgarian Ex-Military in exile
Students’ Organization “Stefan Stambolov”
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church in exile
And many more
These groups organized protests, made connections with other international organizations, and coordinated efforts to weaken the communist regime inside Bulgaria.
The Bulgarian NATO Company
One of the most significant contributions of the Bulgarian political emigration was the formation of the first Bulgarian NATO company in 1951. This company was set up near Zeilsheim, a small town in Germany, not far from Frankfurt am Main. The company was made entirely of Bulgarian political emigrants who had escaped the country and were eager to fight against communism.
The soldiers in the company were all Bulgarians who had managed to escape the communist regime. They joined the company with the hope of defending the free world from the threat of communism, particularly from the Warsaw Pact, and contributing to the eventual liberation of Bulgaria from communist rule. Over the course of its 14 years of existence, about 2,500 Bulgarians joined this company, all committed to the cause of freedom and democracy.
The political emigration of Bulgarians played a crucial role in supporting the armed resistance against the communist regime. Many organizations were formed in exile to help with the resistance efforts, and the Bulgarian NATO company served as an example of the emigrants’ dedication to freeing their homeland. Despite the hardships faced by those who had escaped, they continued to fight for a free and independent Bulgaria.
No comments:
Post a Comment