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 one story he was ambushed by two assassins in front of his home in Sofia. Although struck by bullets, he fought back one of the assailants, but the second one, Violeta Yakova, fired more shots and killed him. As he fell, his daughter is reported to have rushed down the stairs of their home after hearing the commotion, after which she called the authorities.

Awards and decorations

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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, 12.02.2011, retrieved 2012-01-18, 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. [...] Check date values in: |date= (help)
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