Архивните документи като инструмент в ръцете на комунистическата власт

Author(s): Anka Ignatova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2013

This report marks the beginning of two previously unexplored aspects of the history of the archive activity in Bulgaria. One is the organization of work with the documents of the created by the Communist government in 1951 dedicated archive section „Card indexes and Archiv” in the State Security of the Ministry of Interior. Other issue is related to the servicing of the repressive state apparatus with documents from the state archives, established in 1952 in the structure of the same power department. Due to the wide range of the topic, the current research is limited to the period of the late 40’s – mid 50’s of the twentieth century, which is characterized by active in connection with the search, storage and use of archival documents necessary to expose and judicial crackdown on opponents of the ruling Bulgarian Communist Party.

За групата анархисти-емигранти, действала в района на с. Павел баня, Казанлъшко, през 1953–1954 г. (по документи от ДА – В. Търново)

Author(s): Lora Doncheva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2013

Important place in modern historiography takes the issue of political repression and forms of resistance against the imposed communist regime in Bulgaria in the period of 1944-mid-50s of the twentieth century. The problem studied in this report focuses on participants in the group of anarchists – immigrants, acted in the region of Pavel banya, Kazanlak, at the end of 1953- the spring of 1954. The statement, based on the studies in CA-V. Tarnovo documents attempts to clarify the reasons which prompted the three anarchists (Hristo Nestorov, Doncho Karaivanov, Miliu Ivanov) to take risky action for the return to Bulgaria to participate in the resistance against the regime, to reveal new details concerning the organization missionto be presented perspective of the only survivor (D. Karaivanov) for reasons for the failure of the case started. The information in accessible documents give reason to conclude that the lack of consistent, of clear and decisive position of emigrant union to actively participate in the fight against communist rule in Bulgaria is the catalyst that accelerates the decision of three of them to explore other possibilities for the realization of the goal – return to the country and organizing a common resistance against the existing communist regime. The absence of objective information about the situation in Bulgaria among immigrants, and the weaknesses and gaps in the organization of return anarchists determine the failure of the group.

Паричната обмяна в България през 1947 г. – форма на финансова репресия

Author(s): Daniel Vachkov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2013

The paper will examine the development of the financial crisis in Bulgaria during the period 1944-1947, caused by the enormous state expenditure, connected with the participation of Bulgaria in the final stage of World War II and the costs of the Soviet army in the country. In order to cope with the huge increase of money put in circulation and the increasing inflation, the Fatherland Front Government launches exchange of money. It is done in an extremely brutal way and the result is liquidation of great amount of the savings of the population. The money exchange has severe consequences both for the financial status of the Bulgarian citizens and for the entire development of the political and economic situation in the country.

Българската историография от 9 септември 1944 г. до 10 ноември 1989 г. за отношенията между православната църква и държавната власт в България (1878–1912 г.)

Author(s): Petko St. Petkov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2013

The present paper is a critical review of the historiography after September 9, 1944 concerning the relations between the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the state authority in 1878-1912 and the following conclusions can be reached: The interest and respectively the publications on the topic have different intensity over the years and depend on a number of factors such as the current socio-political situation, the personal convictions and personal professional qualities of the researchers, etc. The underestimation of the real spiritual functions of the church in free Bulgaria at the expense of the exaggerated and canonically untypical role of the Exarchate as a national-political institution, is undeniable fact and unfortunately a permanent historiographic tendency which is present also in contemporary publications. The domination of the civil-historical approach to the topic (which can be defined also as anti-ecclesiastical) and the transformation of the national idea and national thought in a constant attribute of our historiography for the new Bulgarian history, leads to the fact that in the past as well as in the present even the church historians and apologists of Exarch Joseph I present his undeniable merits for the preservation of the Bulgarian in Macedonia and Southern Thrace as “real liturgical service”. In considerable part of the publications dealing with the topic, we face inexcusable lack of information, even ignorance regarding fundamental church rules and canonical requirements which partially makes senseless the otherwise assiduous efforts of some researchers to examine the complex, but not unexplainable directions of the relations between the church and the state in 1878-1912.

България и българите в идеологията на югославските комунисти

Author(s): Milen Mihov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2013

The formation of communist Yugoslavia goes through formation of a federal state after the Soviet pattern. The project implementation requires the formation of People’s Republic of Macedonia as a national state of the „Macedonian nation”. The communist project of Macedonia is characterized not by its ideological construction but by the underlying nationalism. Maintaining the stable image of Bulgaria and the Bulgarians as enemies and cause of the partition of Macedonia is of great importance for the internal consolidation of Yugoslavia.

Културата и идеологическият императив зад „желязната завеса“ в началото на Студената война

Author(s): Evgenia Kalinova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2013

In the end of 1940s and the beginning of 1950s, in close connection with the sharp ideological East-West opposition, the Stalinist model of socialism was imposed on East European states. Its important characteristic feature was the total control over the cultural processes and the constant attempts at using the intelligentsia for the realization of the Communist party’s political program. The present paper aims at presenting the concrete parameters of this process on the basis of Bulgarian case. The accent is put on the copying of the Soviet example in managing the culture and in preserving the control over the intelligentsia in the sphere of literature and arts. During the period in regard the repressive character of the Communist regime was most clearly manifested. There were firm instructions to follow strictly the model of „socialist realism” and to reject „the reactionary” Western culture. The intellectuals and their professional unions were constantly under suspicion for direct relations with the „enemy” and such cases are discussed in this paper. It also aims at analyzing the models of intellectual behavior in the face of Communist party efforts to make the intelligentsia serve its political intentions.

Институционалните механизми като регулатор в сферата на монументалните изкуства през социалистическия период

Author(s): Anelia Aleksandrova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2013

Numerous State Institutions have established a National programme for new advance in the development of Bulgarian Architecture and Art Synthesis until 1990. In that programme, some particular measures for the realization of certain institutional requirements have been set up. A uniform art policy has been implemented for the construction of architectural sites, for the formation of architectural environment and accomplishment of art synthesis, as well as for the establishment of the look of towns and villages. For the accomplishment of Art Synthesis, a complete system has been established for planning, funding and conducting creative cooperation between architects and artists in producing pieces of Art tightly related to the architectural environment. That leads to a complete policy in ordering and producing Monumental Art works. Through the means of Art Synthesis the ideological and educational task of Muralmonumental Arts is completed and the artistic taste of man is shaped up. All those mechanisms for producing Monumental Art works during the Socialism period are aimed at the accomplishment of pieces of Art of high aesthetic and emphatic ideological impact in architectural environment.

Държавна намеса в личния и културен живот на българските турци в годините на комунистическия режим

Author(s): Iliyana Gancheva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2013

After World War II, defeated Bulgaria was left in the Soviet sphere of influence and controlled by the left coalition dominated by the Communist Party. From 1944 to 1947, the new government paid particular attention to the Bulgarian Turks to distinguish the line of the previous cabinets and to gain the support of this population, which in their social characteristics is a part of the social base of a left government. After this period a drastic change began in the policy towards the Turkish population. It was reported that tolerating and enhancing its cultural and religious characteristics led to its closure, isolation and alienation that was dangerous for the unity of the nation and of the country. The article presents this form of repression associated with the encroachment on cultural characteristics and identity of Bulgarian Turks in an attempt to modernize their lifestyle by removing the external signs of religious differences in clothing and family rituals and the emotional significance of these changes for them. All these measures have acquired sense for the Muslims as a cultural and historical boundary between their traditional lifestyle and the modern times.

Празници и ритуали на студентите във Великотърновския университет (1963–1989 г.)

Author(s): Maria Zhelyazkova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2013

The report is about the holidays and rituals in the University of Veliko Turnovo between the years 1963–1989. It focuses the attention on the student holiday the holiday of the university, the spring homecoming and the torch marching. The text follows the main points in organizing and holding these events by the students in the old city. Its purpose is to distinguish those rituals-created by the young people- which go beyond the obligatory frame of the official holidayritual system and they are a tribute to the specifics of the student identity, its constants and varieties, when celebrating the dates of the student’s holiday calendar during the years of Communist regime in Bulgaria. Documents and materials from the library of the University, and oral evidence collected by the author during the held half-standardized interviews whit the University of Veliko Turnovo alumni.

Поставяне основите на българската образователна система (1878–1879 г.)

Author(s): Yuliya Simeonova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2012

The origin and development of the Bulgarian education system is an issue that is increasingly attracting the attention of researchers. This presentation focuses on the activities of Marin Drinov as head of the Ministry of National Education, in order to highlight his contribution to the establishment of the Bulgarian education system.

Kриза и гурбет в постсоциалистическия период (по материали за бесарабските българи)

Author(s): Sonya Sredkova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2012

The article presents ethnographic data concerning temporary labour migrations of Bulgarians from the diaspora. Migrations to “the old fatherland” are the special focus in this study.

Жилището на бесарабските българи в руската и постсъветската историография

Author(s): Elka Mincheva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2012

The article presents studies of houses and constructions in Bulgarian and Gagauzian villages in Bessarabia. The author argues that post-soviet studies have elaborated a detailed picture of the technology and rituals related to newly constructed homes.

Съвременен поглед към хайдут Велко Петрович (1780–18.06.1813)

Author(s): Mariana Yovevska / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2012

The paper traces Haiduk Velko Petrovich’s life on many levels: as a hero from the First Serbian Uprising and a handsome man, as a commander of a haiduk’s detachment, a commander of a squad of several thousand horsemen and a husband of two wives, as a participant in the new Serbian administration. His image and the respect that Serbia and Bulgaria had for him are also commented on. His contribution and importance as well as his role in the decisive developments at the beginning of the 20th century as a haiduk with the irreconcilability and riotousness of a free person are pointed out. The paper traces the sources for haiduk Velko, the cultural memory, the way people remembered him and the first publications on him. The author adopts the working hypothesis that the influence of his memories and the stories about his heroic life after 1868 were of great significance for the formation of Levski’s new liberation strategy – preliminary preparation and the assignment of greater importance to the local committees.

Донесение швейцарской полиции о преследовании болгарских коммунистов в Фрибурге 1919 года

Author(s): Dalibor M. Elezović / Language(s): Russian Issue: 1/2011

The article dwells on the persecution of Bulgarian communists and other foreigners by the police in Fribourg in February and March 1919. The Federal Prosecution ordered the police force in the city to persecute the suspicious foreign residents, especially those who were suspected of spreading communist ideas. Among those who were subjected to persecution were the Bulgarian communists Kanderev, Mitev and Belchev who were considered to be a threat to the national security. Citizens of Austria, Soviet Russia, and of other European countries were also subjected to prosecution.

Исторически предпоставки за стабилизиране на военно- съдебната част до Балканските войни (1912 –1913 г.)

Author(s): Polikseniya Petrova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2011

The article deals with the establishment and consolidation of the judicial system in the Bulgarian Armed Forces at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. The author analyses the main laws and regulations concerning the military jurisprudence in the Bulgarian Principality (Kingdom, after 1908). The article traces the main stages of development of military jurisprudence as well as the practical application of the Military Penal Code.

Етнологията във Великотърновската Алма матер

Author(s): Nikolay G. Kolev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2011

The article is devoted to the development of ethnology in the University “St. Cyril and Methodius “. It follows the university tradition of working with students, the establishment and continuance of the speciality of Ethnology in the university.

Нова историческа монография за град Кюстендил през епохата на Възраждането

Author(s): Vera Boneva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2022

Book review

Ценни източници за българската история през XIX и първата половина на XX век

Author(s): Antoaneta Kirilova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2022

Book Review

Дербенджийските села в Златишко-Пирдопската котловина и прилежащите ѝ региони (XV – първата половина на XVII век)

Author(s): Krastyo Yordanov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2023

Based on Ottoman source material, the studies attempt to trace the fate of several Derbendji villages in the region of Zlatitsa, the valley of the Topolnitsa River, and the Sredna Gora Mountains. The Zlatitsa-Pirdop valley is located at a crossroad where two secondary roads meet. ‘Derbend guarding’ (guarding of roads and passes) in this region was to some extent directly related to the maintenance of these roads and the provision of safe travel and communications. However, the sources show that in the first century of the Ottoman rule, only two Derbendji villages were created at the initiative of the Ottoman authorities, in order to populate the deserted and dangerous areas along the road. Subsequently, before the middle of the 16th century, the network of Derbendji villages in the Zlatitsa region expanded, including a number of old settlements. Usually, the population of these settlements, on their own initiative, secured a Sultan’s firman (order) for the granting of Derbendji status, referring to the frequent robberies and murders along the road in the lands of the villages. The villagers wanted to obtain Derbendji (guardian) status so that they can defend themselves with weapons, ensuring their peace and the security of travelers. However, the fate of the Derbendji villages in the Zlatitsa-Pirdop region shows that the Derbendji status and tax privileges did not automatically lead to the demographic and economic prosperity of the villages, turning them into important economic and cultural centres of the Bulgarian nation. The strong Turkic colonization in the valley, as well as the processes of Islamization that began at the end of the 15th century among the local Bulgarian Christian population as well as the example of the first converts, had certain influence on the desire for conversion to Islam, which was associated with exemption from some taxes such as the cizie. Two of the Derbendji settlements in Zlatitsa region eventually became completely Muslim villages. Thus, the author’s thesis is confirmed that the privileged status of the population with special obligations was not so decisive for settlement development, as were factors of a natural-geographical, ethnographic (the specifics of individual ethnographic groups and regions) and socio-economic nature.

Важен принос в османистиката

Author(s): Krasimira Mutafova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2023