Bulgarian Army OOB 1939-1945

[Kent72903]

I am trying to run down an accurate OOB and deployment locations for the Bulgarian army during WWII.

It appears that in 39 there were 12 infantry divisions (1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,11,12,13) plus two cavalry/rapid divisions.

This has (according to internet sources) grown 16 infantry divisions, two cavalry/rapid divisions, and an armored brigade by the time of the invasion of Greece and increases yet again to 21 infantry divisions by the fall of 41 when the 5th Army is organized in the reclaimed territories.

It appears that the 6th was added in April of 41 but that still leaves me short of identifying the remaining divisions.

I've got the 14th and 15th forming in July of 41 and the 17th in August of 41 but supposedly that was accomplished by disbanding the 7th, which would reduce the count. But the 7th shows up later under German Command in Salonika.

The 21st appears in November of 41.

The 22,24,27 are formed in 43

and the 28 and 29 in late 44.

But overall I seem to missing some divisions entirely ot have the activation dates wrong. Plus some divisions appear to have been activated and demobilized several times.

Finally, when I place units in their know locations the border with Turkey appears to be completely undefended. I have found mention of a "Screening Force" along the Turkish border and can identify some regiments that were attached to it before become part of new divisions, but that is all I know about it.

Does anybody have a list of the Bulgarian Army OOB for this period?

I'd like it in Unit Id# - mobilized/demobilized/Dates - Deployment area/nearest city inside Bulgaria by year if possible - Deployment Outside Bulgaria/nearest City again by year if possible.

It isn't clear whether when division was demobilized whether or not the attached units were also demobilized or simply reassigned to another command. Any information available would be appreciated.

Thanks

Kent

[dibo]

OK, let's start like this:

1. Armies and corps - Bulgaria by tradition from the Balkan wars and WW1 had its army organized in armies, which in fact contained several infantry divisions plus additional units. By the treaty of Neuilly Bulgaria was prohibited to have anything larger than a division as a unit, but even as early as 1923 the so called "First class garrisons" in Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv were in fact army districts and HQs in anything but in names (to officially deny the attentions of the Allied Control Commission). When the ACC left in 1928, these armies HQs started to operate more openly and a 4th one was formed in Pleven. The Neuilly restrictions were officially removed by the 1938 Salonica Accord and the 4 armies became finally official.
In 08.1941 some months after the occupation of Macedonia a new 5th Regular Army was formed there with HQ in Skopie (not to be confused with the Mobilized in 04.1941 5th Army which consisted of 6th and 7th Infantry Divisions and 1st Fast Division with the specific task of occupation of Macedonia). This army was considered Regular, had its mobilization divisional districts within Macedonia, was mobilizing local population from there, but its officers were supplied from Bulgaria and despite the efforts of the Bulgarian High Command it never reached comparative fighting efficiency levels with the other 4 armies. On paper its organization was supposed to be the same, but in practice it lacked most Army level support units (for example it did not had the Army heavy artillery regiment), that the 4 other regular armies had. So Regular Armies were:
1st - Sofia -1st ID, 7th ID
2nd - Plovdiv - 2nd, 8th ID, later 10th ID
3rd - Varna - 3rd, 4th ID
4th - Pleven - 5th, 6th, later 9th ID
5th - Skopie (formed in 1941) - 14th, 15th, later 17th ID

Besides the Regular armies, there were other Wartime mobilized Army and Corps sized units, created with specific purposes. By order of appearance these were:

1. "Screening army" ("Screening Front") - For most of the period 1939-1944 Turkey was considered a major threat and a relatively large force was always stationed at the border facing it. This agglomeration of units was called in the beginning "Screening Army", and after 1941 "Screening Front". The "Screening Army" was formed in 07.1939 and had its HQ initially stationed in Nova Zagora. Later it had its HQ moved to Simeonovgrad (Maritza). Besides the HQ and the "Krali Marko" border fortification line (gradually expanded through the years), it consisted of various regular units, rotating between their peacetime establishments and the border. I still don't have a complete list of its OOB through all the years, but here is some incomplete data for 1939-1941:
1939 Summer-Autumn - 2, 3, 8, 10 Regular ID, 11 Mobilized ID, 2 Fast Division, 2, 3, 8 Border Guards Regiments, 3 Air "Orlyak".
Winter 1939 to Spring 1940 - only units amounting to 1 division
May 1940 - two-three divisions
Summer 1940 - three-four divisions
November 1940 - three divisions
December 1940 - two divisions
February 1941 - six divisions
March-May 1941 - ten divisions (all but 6th, 7th ID, 1st FD - 1st army - against Yugoslavia and 10th ID, 2 Border Brigade, later also 11th mobilized ID facing Greece)
June 1941 - six divisions (Macedonia - 6ht, 7th ID, 1 FD, 14th ID, 15th ID, Aegean Thrace - 10th ID, newly formed White Sea (Belomorski) Unit - future 16th ID, Black Sea - two-three divisions)
August 1941 - two-three divisions
Winter 1941 - three divisions (Black sea - another one-two divisions)

2. 1st Occupation Corps - Serbia - Formed in December 1941 - January 1942 due to German request for three divisions to be sent to Yugoslavia to allow German troops there to be used on the Eastern Front. It consisted initially of 6th Regular ID(3, 15, 35 Regular IR, 2 Regular Arty reg), 17 th Mobilized ID (stationed in Prokuplje - 13 IR, 2/69 IR, 3/6 depot regiment, 4/7 arty regiment), 21st mobilized ID (Nish - 2, 6 regular IR, 1/50 IR, 2/6 depot regiment, 2/2 arty regiment), and attached corps units.
In June 1942 the Corps rotated units with the Regular army -17th is disbanded (later formed as regular in 1943 to Vth army in Macedonia), 6th returns to Bulgaria, 21st is kept, but its units are replaced. 7th and 9th regular are sent instead of 6th and 17th.
In March 1943 21st, 9th and 7th are replaced with 22nd, 24th and 27th mobilized divisions. 7th and 9th Regular ID are returned to Bulgaria. 21st is disbanded.
In May 1943 as the Bulgarian occupation zone in Serbia is expanded a fourth division is sent to join the Corps - the mobilized 25th. A fifth division - 29th is added in 1944.
The corps exists until 09.1944.

3. 2nd Occupation Corps (Greece) - Formed officially in 11.1943 by 7th and 16th Regular ID and 28th mobilized division with HQ in Drama and exists until 10.1944. 7th ID has occupied Chalkidiki are in Greece on German request from July 1943. 16th was the former "Belomorski" unit (Aegean Unit) that was mobilized to full-fledged wartime Regular Infantry Division Status in 08.1943 and renamed 16th ID.

N.B. Sometimes in some sources 1st and 2nd Occupation Corps are called 6th and 7th Armies respectively.

[dibo]

Now let's identify the:
2. Divisions
Regular Infantry:
1st to 8th existing in 1938
9th and 10th added in 1939
14th and 15th added in 1941 (V-th army) - both disbanded on 22 September 1944 and 30 September 1944.
16th and 17th added in 1943 (16th is the former Aegean unit, 17th is added to V-th army in September 1943 and disbanded on 28 October 1944)
Mobilized Infantry (which means created by a mixture of mobilized regular and newly formed mobilized reserve units):
11th ID - formed and disbanded several times in 1939-1944 - part of the Screening Front.
12th ID - formed in 05.1944 and sent to the Screening Front
17th ID (not to be confused with the later Regular 17th ID) - formed and disbanded in 1941.
21st ID - formed in November 1941 in Pirot, Yugoslavia. In January 1942 relocated to Nis. Disbanded on 30 March 1943.
22nd ID - formed on 30 March 1943 from the disbanded 21. infantry division. Disbanded in December 1944.
24th ID - formed on 11 March 1943 in Ujice, Yugoslavia. Disbanded in December 1944.
25th ID - formed in September 1942 in Ruse, Bulgaria. Disbanded in May 1943 and again formed in Pojarevac, Yugoslavia on 01 July 1943. Disbanded in October 1944.
27th ID - formed on 11 March 1943 in Prokuplje, Yugoslavia . Disbanded in September 1944
28th ID - formed on 22 November 1943 and stationed in Komotini as part of 2. Corps. Demobilised and disbanded on 07 October 1944.
29th ID - Formed 12 April 1944 for 1. Corps. Stationed in Vranja, Yugoslavia. Demobilised and disbanded 07 October 1944

Cavalry divisions:
1st Cavalry (Fast) - regular unit, disbanded in summer 1941. Its units became independent Cavalry Brigades and/or Regiments
2nd Cavalry (Fast) - regular unit, exists until 1945

[dibo]

3. Brigades

Armoured Brigade - planned in 1941. In actual existence since 1.10.1943. The idea was to form 5 such brigades- one for each Regular army, but it remained only on paper. Despite its name as "brigade" - it is modeled on 1943 Panzer Division.
1st to 4th Border Guards Brigades - mobilized by the Border Guards. In peacetime the Border Guards were divided in Sectors and in Sections, but could mobilize 8 Border Guards Regiments in 4 brigades with supporting artillery, etc. 1st to 4th BGB were mobilized and demobilized several times, but only 3rd an 4th appear in OOBs after 1941.
1st to 4th Cavalry Brigades - 1st and 2nd were part of the 1st Cavalry (Fast) division until 1941. Afterwards these became independent and 1st was stationed in Skopie (5th army) and 2nd in Kavala (Aegean). 3rd (Shumen) and 4th (Sofia) continued to be part of 2nd Cavalry Division.

[dibo]

Basic OOB level:
4. Regiments
Regular Infantry
The largest allowed unit formation by the Neuilly treaty restrictions was the division, but because the quantity restrictions of the army made the formation of divisions irrelevant in practice, the Bulgarian army choosed simply to downgrade with one level - thus 8 divisions with 24 regiments by the 1923 Law implementing the Treaty became 8 regiments with 24 battalions. This allowed in 1928 quickly to convert back to 8 division with 24 regiments. The following were gradually added to the 24:
39th IR - formed in 1934 - Gotse Deltchev - 7th ID
10th IR - formed in 1935? - Kyrdjali - 2nd ID?
15th IR, 34th IR, 36th IR - formed in 1938
44th IR - formed in 01.1940 in Krumovgrad
31st IR, 46th IR - formed in 1940 in Southern Dobrudja (31st Silistra, 46th Dobrich)
51st IR, 52nd IR - formed in 07.1941 (14th ID)
54th IR, 55th IR - formed in 07.1941 (15th ID)
Kavala IR - formed in 07.1941, in 12.1941 renamed to Drama IR, in 02.1942 becomes 57th IR
Gyumyurdzhina IR - formed in 07.1941 in Aegean Thrace (Komotini), in 03.1942 becomes 58th IR
45th IR - mobilized in 1942, regular since 1943
53th IR - formed in 03.1943
56th IR - mobilized in 09.1942 in Veles, regular since 1943
59th IR - formed in 03.1943
48th IR - formed in 09.1943
49th IR - formed in 10.1943
So in 09.1944 there were 45 Regular Infantry Regiments in the army:
1st, 3rd to 15th, 18th, 19th, 21st to 25th, 27th, 29th to 31st, 33rd to 36th, 39th, 44th to 49th, 51st to 59th

Mobilized Infantry Regiments
41st, 42nd - mobilized several times in 1941-1945, part of 11th ID
50th - formed in 1944 from 3/25
61st to 70th - formed in 1943 - occupational duty in Serbia or Greece or Screening front against Turkey
103rd - actually 3rd Army Depot Regiment, renamed in 12.1943, when sent to 22nd ID in Serbia
122nd - actually 2nd Army Reserve Regiment
123rd - actually 3rd army Reserve Regiment, renamed in 12.1943, when sent to Serbia

Motorized Regiments
1st, 2nd - formed in 1928, one for each Fast (Cavalry) Division. Also called Light REgiments.1st appears to be disbanded in 1941, along with 1st Fast (Cavalry) Division. 2nd remains part of 2nd Cavalry Division, was in Serbia in 1942 as part of 21st Mobilized Division, in 1943 was on the Screening Front and in 1944 was fighting the Germans in Macedonia as part of 2nd Cavalry Divsion
Motorized Regiment of the Armoured Brigade - formed in 1943.

Reserve and Depot Regiments
From 1928 to 1944 by Wartime plans each army should have 1-2 reserve infantry regiments - for replenishing the manpower losses and 1-2 depot regiments. During the period these were some times mobilized and even some were used in 1943-1944 used as line infantry for occupational duties in Yugoslavia.

Artillery Regiments
1st to 4th Army Artillery Regiments - formed in 1928. Three are formed on the basis of Vidin, Sofia and Shumen Fortress Artillery Battalion and the fourth - anew from 2nd Army district.
1st to 8th Divisional Arty Regiments - formed in 1928.
9th Divisional Arty Regiment - formed in 1939
10th Divisional Arty Regiment - formed in 1940
14th, 15th Divisional Arty Regiments - formed in 1941
16th Divisional Arty Regiment - formed in 1943
17th Divisional Arty REgiment - formed in 1943
HQ Motorized Heavy Arty Regiment - formed in 1942
Artillery Regiment of the Armoured Brigade - formed in 1943
2hd Horse Arty Regiment - formed in 1941 (?) - part of 2nd Cavalry Division. Before that both Fast divisions had one Arty Battalion each.
1st and 2nd AA Regiment - formed in 1943
3rd and 4th AA Regiment - formed in 1944
Varna Coastal Defense Arty Regiment - formed in 1944
Burgas Coastal Defense Arty Regiment - formed in 1944
Kavala Coastal Defense Arty Regiment - formed in 1944
Dedeagach Coastal Defense Arty Regiment - formed in 1944

Armoured Regiment - exists in 1941-1943. Afterwards part of the Armoured Brigade

Cavalry Regiments
As per the 1923 Law only three Cavalry Regiments were retained - The Guards, 3rd and 10th. The rest were used to form 8 Gendarmerie Horse Groups.
In 1928 the Gendermerie Horse Groups are used to reform another 5-7 Cavalry Regiments so the Cavalry now had - 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th and 10th. The Guards is also retained, although fluctuating between a Regiment and a lower unit.
Those 8 Regiments plus the Guards are maintained until 1945 (5th is disbanded from 1935 to 1941, 9th is disbanded in 1935)

Engineer and other Regiments
1st to 4th Army Engineer Regiments - exists since 1928 - one for each army.
HQ Signals and Communication Regiment - exists in 1928-1943.
HQ Railway Regiment - exists since 1928
1st to 4th Army Signal and Communications Regiments - formed in 1943 - one for each army.
HQ Auto Regiment - formed in 1943

[Kent72903]

Thanks dibo

I was hoping you would eventually post a reply, from what I have read in other threads, you are the recognized authority on Bulgaria, at least as far as this forum is concerned, and I very much appreciate the time you devote to helping us get the facts straight.

A quick question, when you write "mobilized" as part of a division or regimental name is this the same as the english term "Reserve?"

[Kent72903]

Thanks again dibo

Next question: Krali Marko border fortification line

Most of the references I can find for this line of fortifications are post war and refer to Russian and German tanks being buried and used as armored pill boxes. What was the extent of the fortifications in 1939? Were they upgraded during the war years? How would you compare them to western fortifications? Would you consider them the equal of the West Wall or Stalin Line?

[dibo]

A quick question, when you write "mobilized" as part of a division or regimental name is this the same as the english term "Reserve?"

By "Mobilized" I mean unit that is not Regular (does not have its own mobilization district) and does not exist in Peacetime. Some of these can be considered Reserve and some are just Temporary Ad-Hoc Units. For example in 1938 Bulgarian army had 8 Infantry Divisions and 2 Fast Divisions. It was planned then in war time to increase the Infantry Divisions to 12 (each of the 4 armies to mobilize one reserve infantry division, besides mobilizing its two regular divisions to wartime strength). Therefore the 11th ID, mobilized several times in 1939-1944 can be considered also as "Reserve", as its creation was planned from Peacetime. The "20s" Divisions on the other hand were "Ad-Hoc" formations from the start - these consisted of various mobilized formations and they were specifically used for occupational garrison duties only.

[dibo]

Thanks again dibo

Next question: Krali Marko border fortification line

Most of the references I can find for this line of fortifications are post war and refer to Russian and German tanks being buried and used as armored pill boxes. What was the extent of the fortifications in 1939? Were they upgraded during the war years? How would you compare them to western fortifications? Would you consider them the equal of the West Wall or Stalin Line?

Here I can not help much. Krali Marko line was started in WW2 and was gradually developed until the 70s-80s. Until recently it was considered a military secret and most of the information available is dubious at best. In 1939-1944 Bulgaria was developing its fixed defenses on three main axis:
1. Border with Turkey
2. Black Sea Coast - against Soviet Union
3. Aegean Thrace Coast (since 1941) - against the Allies
In 1943 for example the following was newly constructed on these three areas:
5 concrete pillboxes for ATG
96 concrete concealments for ATG
21 underground concealments for ATG
169 concrete pillboxes for HMG
28 concrete observation posts
247 concrete HMG emplacements
14 concrete shelters
23 underground shelters
10 300m antitank ditches
etc.
I think I have some more fragmentary data at home. I will post it later.

[Kent72903]

Thanks again!

In my readings I gathered the impression that the Army and divisional headquarters served more as administrative agencies rather than exercising tactical control. Is this a reasonable view of the situation?

One example leading me to this conclusion was the case of the 16th division. there were several regiments including some border guards grouped as an Agean command, which after some time were collectively upgraded to the status of a division.

Another question I had, is pointed out by your observation that all the 20's numbered divisions were pretty much adhoc units organized for a specific purpose (usually, occupation duties). The question is, when one of these "reserve" divisions was demobilized what happened to the attached regiments? were they also demobilized or did they just return to their home base until needed again?

[dibo]

Thanks again!
In my readings I gathered the impression that the Army and divisional headquarters served more as administrative agencies rather than exercising tactical control. Is this a reasonable view of the situation?

Until 09.1944 - yes. There was actually no fighting until then, so they functioned mostly like mobilization agencies.

One example leading me to this conclusion was the case of the 16th division. there were several regiments including some border guards grouped as an Agean command, which after some time were collectively upgraded to the status of a division.

The 16th was a very specific case. It was based in Aegean Thrace. At first it was a simple occupation unit formed by two local Bulgarian population raised regiments, plus some supporting units. Then in 1943, as the Allied threat for a landing increased, the Aegean unit was expanded, reinforced and upgraded into a regular division (16th) and later with the expansion of the occupation zone to Chalkidiki an entire corps was formed with 2 reinforced regular divisions (7th and 16th) and one mobilized (28th). You can see some of the history of the 16th here:
http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=4060
You will note that it exists as "16th" from late 1941, but in the beginning it was just a simple change of the name of the Aegean unit. It was in 1943 that the division actually became regular and received all the supporting units of a regular division (its own arty regiment, etc.).

Another question I had, is pointed out by your observation that all the 20's numbered divisions were pretty much adhoc units organized for a specific purpose (usually, occupation duties). The question is, when one of these "reserve" divisions was demobilized what happened to the attached regiments? were they also demobilized or did they just return to their home base until needed again?

Depends. The regular regiments were returned to their peace-time locations and then demobilized, while retaining the core peacetime unit. The mobilized regiments were demobilized and disbanded.

[dibo]

Screening Army (Front) against Turkey 1939-1945
Spring 1939 - Summer 1939 - Bulgarian Intelligence reports 18 Turkish Divisions in Thrace and Gallipoli.
June 1939 - Mobilized to wartime strength Bulgarian 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 10th and 11th ID, 2nd Fast Division, 2nd, 3rd and 8th Border Guards Regiment and under the command of the HQ of the 2nd army on 18 July 1939 these begin to be transferred by railway or on foot to the Turkish border. These troops take the front from Fakiya to the north shore of the Arda river, with its bulk in the area of Elhovo - Topolovgrad - Lyubimets. The HQ is in Nova Zagora.
6th October 1939 - First rotation of units of the Screening army:
HQ 2nd Army is replaced by HQ 1st Army
8th ID is replaced by 1st ID
3rd and 11th ID are replaced by 7th ID plus 45th IR
2nd ID is replaced by 6th ID
10th ID is replaced by 26th and 27th IR, parts of 4th army artillery regiment and 3rd Reserve divisional HQ
2 Fast Division remains (only its motorized regiment is replaced by the one of the 1st FD).
11 November 1939 - most of the units from the Screening Army are withdrawn as the winter approaches. The Screening front now consists of three sectors (from Besh Tepe, West of Maritza River to Zvezdetz village near Malko Tyrnovo) - Maritza, Tundzha and Strandzha. Each sector has 3 mixed battalions (taken from 1st, 6th and 7th ID), reinforced by 1 arty battery and 1 mortar platoon. The HQ of the Screening front is now in Elhovo and is a divisional HQ.
In April 1940 9th Infantry Division is mobilized and replaces (25.04.1940) these mixed units with its three regiments (one for each sector).
May 1940 - 9th ID is reinforced with 2nd Fast Division (23.05.1940). The HQ is replaced with the one of armies HQ(temporary 5th?). Front is expanded from Ivaylovgrad (one battalion) to Zvezdetz village. 2nd Fast Division is based on the Maritza river valley, 9th is in the Tundzha river valley.
June 1940 - HQ 5th army is replaced by HQ 4th Army. 2nd ID joins the Screening Front.
September 1940 - 2nd Fast Division is replaced by 5th ID, HQ 4th Army is replaced with HQ 2nd Army.
October 1940 - 2nd ID is replaced with 4th ID.
November 1940 - 5th ID is replaced with 11th ID. HQ 2nd Army with HQ 4th Army.
December 1940 - All IDs are withdrawn and replaced by the mobilized 2nd, 3rd and 4th Border Guards Regiments.
February 1941 - The Screening Front is drastically reinforced. It now has the HQ of 3rd Army (village of Gorno Panicherevo, near Stara Zagora, nowadays called Yagoda) as a "HQ of the Screening Group of Armies", two armies (HQs - 1st and 4th) and the following ID - 1st, 9th, 3rd, 5th, 8th and 12th.
July 1941 - 3rd and 8th ID, 2nd and 4th Army HQs are withdrawn from the border. There remained - 1st, 2nd, 5th, 9th and 12th ID, 3rd Cavalry Bde and 4th Border Guards Bde, forming again a "Screening Army".
21 August 1941 - 1st, 5th, 9th and 12th ID are withdrawn and conduct large army exercises in Thrace. The Screening Army remains with 2nd ID, 3rd and 4th Border Guards Brigades, 3rd Cavalry Brigade.
Winter 1941 - The Screening Front remains only with 3rd Border Guards Bde and one mixed brigade.2nd ID, 4th Border Guards bde and 3rd Cavalry Bde are withdrawn.
End of April 1942 - Screening front is reinforced with 2nd Army (3rd, 8th and 10th ID). 3rd covers Maritza, 8th - Tundzha, 10th - Ivaylovgrad.
Fall 1942 - 2nd Army is withdrawn and is replaced with 25th ID (71, 72, 75 and 76th IR, one arty bn). From the withdrawing troops from the border is formed 28th Provisional ID just for army exercises and then disbanded.
22.04.1943 Screening front is reinforced - 25th ID is replaced with HQ 4th Army, 2nd, 5th and 11th ID and 44th IR анд 2nd Army ATG Bn. 11th covers from Dedeagach (Alexandroupoli) to Mandritsa village, 2nd covers from Besh Tepe - Lyubimets - Konstantinovo, 5th from Elhovo to Zvezdetz. The HQ 4th Army and 2nd ATG Bn are in Simeonovgrad.
4.12.1943 Those troops are relieved and replaced by 2nd Cavalry Division, reinforced with 8 cavalry squadrons and 6 arty Batalions. From the previous troops there remain 2nd Army ATG Batalion and 2 AA Platoons from 3rd and 8th ID.
13.05.1944 - 2nd Cavalry Division is replaced by 2nd army (1st ID - Lyubimets, Maritza area; 12th ID - Elhovo, Tundzha area; 5th ID - Sredetz, Strandzha area), but this time it is not demobilized but is placed in the area of Nova Zagora - Yambol - Sliven as reserve of the 2nd army. 4 new 50mm ATG platoons are added to the defenses.

Temporary screening on the Black Sea coast and the Greek border:
22.11.1940 - 19th IR mobilized and with one artillery bn covers Varna. From 25.06.1941 - 4th ID covers Varna.
12.1940 - 4th and 5th Militia Regiments with one arty bn cover Burgas. Later also 9th Militia Regiment. in 06.1941 - only 24th IR.
In 01.1942 24th IR and 4th ID under the command of 3rd Army HQ form Black Sea Defense and are mobilized on wartime strength. In October 1942 these are demobilised and replaced with 62nd IR (63rd?).
On 20.05.1943 63rd is replaced by 3rd and 4th Border Guards regiments. After the 1943 of the Divisional Arty Regiments 13 Coastal Defense Platoons are formed with the released 75mm guns in 04.1943.
05.01.1944 - 3rd and 4th Border Guards are relieved. New six 50mm Coastal Defense ATG platoons are added.
22.04.1944 - HQ 4th Border Guards Brigade, 5th Border Guards REgiment and 6th Border Guards Regiment, 1/3 and 1/4 Border Guards Bde's ARty Bns are placed on the Black Sea Defense
05.1944 - 3rd and 4th Border Guards Brigades form the Black Sea Defense. 8 new coastal defense arty platoons are formed.

28.11.1940 - 2nd ID and 10th ID and 2nd Army HQ cover the Greek border. On 24.04.1941 this 2nd army with 10th ID, 2nd Border Guards Brigade and 1st Army Reserve Regiment starts the occupation of Aegean Thrace. In 05.1941 these troops in Thrace are reinforced with 11th ID. Those troops are withdrawn with the formation of the Belomorski (Aegean) unit, except 11th ID which remains with garrisons on Thassos and Samothrace and the bulk of the division facing east in the area (Ivaylovgrad - Gyumyurdzhina (Komotini) - Dedeagach (Alexandroupoli)). The 11th is withdrawn in the winter of 1941-1942 and replaced partially with 10th ID and Aegean unit forces. In 10.1941 with the Drama uprising in Greece 14th and 39th IR are sent there. On 20.07.1943 16th ID is mobilized to wartime strength and reinforced with 68th IR. 9 coastal defense platoons with released 75mm guns from the divisional arty are formed and places along the coast.
5.7.1943 on German Request the area between Struma and Vardar rivers is occupied by 7th ID. Due to the fact that part of its formation has just returned from occupation duty with 1st corps in Yugoslavia, these are replaced and the division becomes a mixed unit - 13th IR, 41st IR, 1st army reserve regiment, 12th divisional HMG bn, 12th arty regiment (4/7, 2/12 and 3/12 bn), 7th depot regiment, 12th Engineer Bn, etc. Those are reinforced by the end of the year with 1 75mm battery from 6th Divisionalarty regiment, 6th divisional HMG Bn, one Bn of 4th Army reserve regiment. Later 28th ID is formed - HQ and 6th Cavalry regiment in Gyumyurdzhina (Komotini), 10th IR, 58th IR (from 16th ID), mixed arty regiment. This division takes position between Mesta river and the strip between Aegean Thrace and Tureky border that remained under German administration. 16th is positioned between 28th and 7th and includes also 62nd IR to replace the 58th (relocated to 28th ID). On 18.11.1943 these three divisions became 2nd Occupation corps, whose HQ was located in Drama. On 03.04.1944 the units of the 28th are replaced - it now had 14th, 39th, 68th IR, 7th Divisional HMG Bn, 7th Divisional Arty Regiment, 1st Divisional ATG Bn, all the other 7th ID supporting units and 2/2 depot Bn - all mobilized to wartime strenght. In March 1943 62nd IR is mobilized to wartime strength.
1944 - 10 new 50mm ATG are added to the defenses. in July 1944 16th ID is reinforced with 22 IR (Nea Peramos)

Screening against Yugoslavia
19.02.1941 - the border regiments on the Yugoslav border are mobilized. In the area Slivnitza - Pernik - Tran are located 1st FD, 6th ID and 7th ID as General Staff's reserve. Later this reserve froms the 5th Army which occupies Macedonia starting from 19.04.1941 until the formation of the Regular 5th army there (from 01.08.1941).

South Dobrudzha Annexation - 09.1940
By 3rd Army - 4th ID, 1st Fast Division, 4th Border Regiment, the Fleet.

1st Occupation corps in 1944
Reinforced by 29-th ID (04.1944) - Vranja, Pirot, Boyanovo - HQ in Vranja, 50th IR - Pirot, 52 IR - Vranja, 3rd IR - Boyanovo, 4/4 Arty Bn - Vranja
Reinforced with 65th mobilized IR and 6/1 Arty Bnin 05.1944 plus one air squadron.

Krali Marko border fortification line and other fortifications
By 1939 Bulgaria was restricted by the Neuilly treaty to fortify its borders (legally by 31 July 1938 - Thessaloniki Accord). Therefore the fortification works started only in 1939. The idea is due to lack of funds, to start first with gradual introduction of individual fortification works and groups for regiments and battalions on the most obvious invasion routes. These have to include - concrete MG emplacements, concrete observation posts, underground shelters and various obstacles. In April 1939 a report by the General Staff was made with the plan to start the fortifications, the Minister of War signed it and the construction slowly commenced in July 1939 from Besh Tepe (West of the Maritza River) to Malko Tarnovo with 1st ot 4th Engineer and 1st to 6th and 8th Labour Construction Battalions. By the end of 1939 are constructed:
114 underground shelters
26 concrete observation posts
52 000m barb wire.
In 1940 are constructed:
435 concrete MG bunkers
83 concrete observation posts
6 underground shelters
In addition on the Burgas Black sea coast - 32 concrete MG bunkers.
In 1941 the border fortification is expanded south and now covers also the Rhodopes area facing Didymóteicho. There in the summer of 1941 20 concrete HMG bunkers are constructed. On Varna Black Sea Coast - 32 concrete HMG bunkers.
In 1942 the first fortification line was finished. The 2nd line was started. Constructed in 1942 - 113 concrete HMG bunkers, 10 concrete observation posts, 137 underground shelters. On Black Sea Coast - 32 concrete HMG bunkers, 7 concrete observation posts.
1939-1942 - 1000 km of roads finished in the Border area with Turkey.
1943 (all areas - Turkey, Black Sea, Aegean):
5 concrete pillboxes for ATG
96 concrete concealments for ATG
(The army had 156 50mm German ATG that were assigned for those ATG emplacements)
21 underground concealments for ATG
169 concrete pillboxes for HMG
28 concrete observation posts
247 concrete HMG emplacements
14 concrete shelters
23 underground shelters
10 300m antitank ditches
482m concrete antitank walls
etc.
All in all by end of 1943 on the Black Sea coast and the border against Turkey are finished the 1st lines of defense plus some parts of the 2nd, while on the Aegean coast only the 1st line was near completion.
1944 - the fortification is divided on 4 areas - Macedonian (3 fortified areas), White Sea (AEgean - 3 fortified areas), SouthEastern (facing Turkey - 2 fortified areas), Black Sea (2 fortified areas). Materials from the Greek Metaxas line are used.
Macedonia -1944:
7 concrete observation posts,
104 HMG bunkers
48 ATG bunkers
22 ATG shelters
Aegean (2 lines - coastal and internal - internal is the main line):
7 concrete observation posts,
126 HMG bukers
18 ATG bunkers
20 ATG shelters
40 concrete shelters
30 underground galleries
5 underground tunnels
South east:
3 divisional HQ;
92 underground galleries;
14 artillery concrete observation posts;
8 ATG bunkers;
16 ATG concrete shelters;
8 ATG underground shelters;
22 concrete shelters;
6 underground tunnels;
10 HMG emplacements;
2 ATG bunkers with HMG emplacements above.

Full Mobilization April 1944
22.04.1944 - Mobilization to wartime strength ordered fo HQs 1st to 5th army, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 17th ID.

August 1944
29th ID is reinforced with 36th IR (Bosilegrad). 2nd Cavalry moves west (5th Cavalry regiment in Razlog, 8th Cavalry Regiment in Plovdiv, 10th Cavalry Regiment in Ihtiman, 2nd light motorized regiment in Breznik).

[Kent72903]

All I can say is wow!

I think this needs to be posted to Wikipedia. I have never seen this level of detail before. It will take me some time to digest it all, but when I do I might have a few more questions.

Thanks again

Kent

[Kent72903]

Looking back over everything I've come up with a couple of last questions.

1) What were the regimental numbers for the original 24 regular infantry regiments?

2) In your post on the Screening Front you show the 12 ID attached to the group of armies in February of 41 but in your list of divsions you show them activated in 44. Which is correct? Was it activated and deactivated several times?

3) Also, in your post on the screening Front, you mention Militia Infantry Regiments which were mobilized and formed as part of the screening Front. How many Militia units were there?

4) Engineer and Construction Battalions- When discusing the fortifications you mention the 1st to 4th Engineers and the 1st to 6th and 8th Construction Batallions. Where these part of the regiments attached to the four armies? Or, were they in addition to those regiments.

[dibo]

Looking back over everything I've come up with a couple of last questions.
1) What were the regimental numbers for the original 24 regular infantry regiments?

Regiment - Location (which does not necessarily correspond with its "historic" name - example 15th "Lom" regiment is based in Belogradchik, and not in Lom, etc.)
1st IR - Sofia (1st ID)
2nd IR (later 33rd IR) - Svishtov (5th ID)
3rd IR - Vidin (6th ID)
4th IR - Pleven (6th ID, later in 1939 9th ID)
5th IR - Ruse (5th ID)
6th IR - Sofia (1st ID)
7th IR - Shumen (4th ID)
8th IR - Varna (4th ID)
9th IR - Plovdiv (2nd ID)
10th IR - Haskovo, from 1934 in Kardzhali (2nd ID, later 8th ID)
11th IR - Sliven (3rd ID)
12th IR - Stara Zagora (8th ID)
13th IR - Kyustendil (7th ID)
14th IR - Gorna Djumaya (Blagoevgrad nowadays) (7th ID)
15th IR - Vratza, later Belogradchik (6th ID)
18th IR - Veliko Tarnovo (5th ID)
19th IR - Razgrad (4th ID)
21st IR - Karlovo, from 1934 in Smolyan (2nd ID)
22nd IR - Samokov (7th ID)
23rd IR - Kazanlak, from 1934 Simeonovgrad (8th ID)
24th IR - Burgas (3rd ID)
25th IR - Slivnitza (1st ID)
27th IR - Pazardjik (2nd ID)
29th IR - Yambol (3rd ID)

Later additions until 1939 (corrected data from the post on the Regiments in this thread)
35th IR - Vratza (6th ID) - 1929?
39th IR - Nevrokop (Gotse Deltchev nowadays) (7th ID) - in 1934
34th IR - Lovetch (5th ID, from 1939 - 9th ID) - in 1938
36th IR - Oryahovo (9th ID) - in 1938
From 1940 onwards data is correct in the post on the Regiments.

2) In your post on the Screening Front you show the 12 ID attached to the group of armies in February of 41 but in your list of divsions you show them activated in 44. Which is correct? Was it activated and deactivated several times?

Yes, 11th and 12th were activated and deactivated several times. They were meant to be mobilized divisions in case of need.

3) Also, in your post on the screening Front, you mention Militia Infantry Regiments which were mobilized and formed as part of the screening Front. How many Militia units were there?

By moibilization plan - 10 in 1939 (1st to 10th), by 1941 these were renamed 61st to 70th IR, partially mobilized from time to time for the Screening Front or Occupation corps duties.

4) Engineer and Construction Battalions- When discusing the fortifications you mention the 1st to 4th Engineers and the 1st to 6th and 8th Construction Batallions. Where these part of the regiments attached to the four armies? Or, were they in addition to those regiments.

For the Engineers - no, these were not the Engineer regiments, which were mostly specialised troops. What I here wrongly mentioned as "Engineer" (should be in fact "Army Construction Battalion") is that each army had its own labour battalion (total of 4 in 1939, 5 in 1941), since 1928, but these were always considered as part of the army supporting units, unlike the Construction Battalions.
For the Construction battalions - these belonged to the Construction Troops (also called in that time Labour ("Трудови") Troops - large paramilitary organisation, existing in Bulgaria from 1920-s to late 1990s, see http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-2040.html ; in 1935-1947 these were relocated from the Ministry of Public Works to the Ministry of War and considered part of the Army). The Construction battalions of the Labour troops were 8 in 1939, and 12 in 1941-1944.