In March Bulgaria marks the 100th anniversary since the battle near Edirne, which was decisive for the outcome of the First Balkan War. In this war the four Balkan countries Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece and Montenegro rose against the Ottoman Empire to liberate territories populated mainly with Christians. The town of Edirne which was situated on the pass to Istanbul was an important transport centre. The strategic importance of the Edirne Fortress during the Russo-Turkish war in 1877-1878 was the reason for the construction of additional fortifications there. Several years after this war, some new fortifications were built at this place. The biggest modernization of the Edirne fortress took place after the Young Turk revolution 1908. This was why the military experts regarded this fortress as one of the best protected ones in Southeastern Europe. “The defense of Edirne consisted of several areas of fortification”, says in an interview for RB doctor Stoyan Nikolov form the National Museum of Military History. “The front line was covered with trenches and fences. The main line consisted of twenty” forts, the next one which was closer to the town also consisted of defences. The forts were constructed of thick walls with huge quantity of concrete. Practically they could only be destroyed by heavy artillery. 

“Along with the forts, positions for over 70 batteries were built near them. Wire nets were installed along the fort line”, Stoyan Nikolov goes on to say. “Many hydro-technical installations and pitfalls were also put there. Thus, the Turkish army turned the Edirne fortress into a first-class fortification.”

© Photo: lostbulgaria.com

The Bulgarian troops near Edirne, before the attack

The fortress was constructed with the help of German experts. This is why the Turkish military adviser field-marshal Von Der Goltz liked to say that it could only be conquered by the Prussian army after several months of blockade. In fact, the preparation for the onrush of the fort started before the outbreak of the First Balkan War. The commander of the Sofia garrison artillery lieutenant colonel Stefan Slavchev read several lectures to the soldiers from the Sofia garrison. There, he outlined the necessary efforts needed for the attack of the Edirne fortress.

“The mission of Major Djanko Nedelchev was of great importance. In the years preceding the First Balkan War, the Bulgarian commanding headquarters made the good decision that it needs to receive fresh information about the fortifications which were under construction near the town of Edirne and sent Major Nedelchev on a diplomatic mission to this town. For two years, the Bulgarian officer managed to make a map of the major military installations near Edirne. It gave an extremely precise information to the Bulgarian commanders”, says doctor Nikolov.

The Second Bulgarian Army took part at the siege of the Edirne. It was helped by Serbian military forces. On the eve of the war General Nikola Ivanov who was commander of the Second Bulgarian Army thought that the fortress could be conquered with an attack. However, General Fichev who was a chief of the military staff of the Second Bulgarian Army did not share his view. He decided that Bulgaria could not provide military power for the attack of the Edirne and Lozengrad fortresses at the same time. This led to the siege of the Edirne fortress for several consecutive months

© Photo: lostbulgaria.com

General Nikola Ivanov (at the front) heading the Second Bulgarian Army approaching Edirne

“General Nikola Ivanov continued to ask the military headquarters for advice about the attack of the fortress”, says Stoyan Nikolov. “He held an extremely precise training of his army. The preparation for the attack continued after General Vladimir Vazov, who was an engineer and expert in the construction of fortresses, was appointed as commander of the eastern wing of the Second Bulgarian Army in January 1913. Several military teams, which had to train the divisions for the future attack of the artificial fortifications, were formed. An extremely good system of connection between different subdivisions was made. There was also a good collaboration between the artillery, the infantry and the field-engineer detachments. The Bulgarian army concentrated huge military power at the eastern side of the fortress where they outnumbered many times the Turkish troops. During the decisive siege between March 11 and 13, the Bulgarian soldiers defeated the Turkish army there. This made the task of the advancing infantry easier”, concludes Stoyan Nikolov.

The Bulgarian army demonstrated new modern skills in the siege of the Edirne fortress. On October 16, 1912, the first military flight in Europe was carried out over Edirne. It had to make air reconnaissance and execute the first bombardment of Karaagac train station. An interception of the radio waves and a catching of the messages of the Edirne garrisons’ radio stations started during the siege. Moreover, the Bulgarian artillery managed to reach a high density of the gunfire and through their fire rampant they managed to create a shield for the Bulgarian infantry divisions. Despite the modern organization of the siege, the victory would not be possible without the heroism and the selflessness shown by the Bulgarian soldiers. This was not a formal surrender after long lasting siege, because the powerful garrison of the fortress fought hard till the end. This is why the conquering of the Edirne fortress echoed in the foreign media as an exceptional achievement of the Bulgarian army.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov