Documentary Evidence of Donations to the Eastern Rumelian Militia
Documentary Evidence of Donations to the Eastern Rumelian Militia

Summary/Abstract: The importance of the Russian donations to the Еastern Rumelian militia had an impact on the development of the armed forces of Bulgaria. Its detailed presentation aims to show the true meaning it has had. The importance of this donation should also be seen as part of the period in which it occurs. In the 19th century, firearms were a staple of any army. Eastern Rumelia could not afford to buy the necessary amount of weapons. What has been said so far sheds new light on the Russian donation. Without weapons, the development of the armed forces would have been extremely slow. It is true that Eastern Rumelia later bought more modern rifles from Russia, but they were fewer in number and this happened in 1882 or three years after the creation of the militia. One of the main pillars of the setting up of the East Rumelia army turned out to be the donations of Russia, due to which the Bulgarians in Rumelia began their military training from the very beginning of the existence of the autonomous region within the Ottoman Empire. The successful beginning of the development of the militia is not only the beginning for the military units of Eastern Rumelia. Viewed in depth, this donation is the basis for the creation of the Bulgarian Army. This is because the army of the Principality of Bulgaria was successfully supplemented in 1885–1886 by the East Rumelia militia that joined it. The positives of this merger far exceed the Union of 1885.

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