Dobri Dzhurov

Dobri Dzhurov (Bulgarian:Добри Джуров) was a Bulgarian politician and military leader. He was the last Defense Minister of the People's Republic of Bulgaria from 1962 to 1990.[1][2]

Army General

Dobri Dzhurov
Добри Джуров
Minister of People's Defense of Bulgaria
In office
17 March 1962 – 22 August 1990
PresidentTodor Zhivkov
Preceded byIvan Mihailov
Succeeded byYordan Mutafchiev
Personal details
Born(1916-01-05)5 January 1916
Lovech Province, Kingdom of Bulgaria
Died17 June 2002(2002-06-17) (aged 86)
Sofia, Bulgaria
CitizenshipPeople's Republic of Bulgaria
Political partyBulgarian Communist Party
Spouse(s)Elena Dzhurovа
ChildrenChavdar Djurov, Spartak Dzhurov
Military service
Allegiance People's Republic of Bulgaria
Branch/service Bulgarian People's Army
Years of service1939–1990
RankArmy General

Biography

He participated in the resistance movement during the Second World War. He was the commander of a guerrilla brigade. After the communist coup in September 1944, he began work at the Ministry of the Interior and later became an officer of the Bulgarian Army. He became the Minister of People's Defense of Bulgaria in 1962. He was responsible for Bulgaria's participation in the invasion of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact troops in 1968. He had been a full member of the CPB since 1974.

Dzhurov played a key role in the ousting of longtime Communist leader Todor Zhivkov in December 1989. Although he and Zhivkov's relationship dated back to the resistance, he had grown increasingly disgusted with Zhivkov's behavior. When he lent his support to the plot to oust Zhivkov, he was given the task of ensuring that Zhivkov would have no room to manoeuvre.[3][4] On 9 November, a day before a scheduled Politburo meeting, Dzhurov advised Zhivkov to resign. He warned Zhivkov that the Politburo had lost confidence in him, and there were enough votes to remove him. Zhivkov was caught unawares and tried to marshal support, to no avail.[4]

Just before the meeting the next day, Dzhurov gave Zhivkov an ultimatum–unless he stepped down, the Politburo would not only vote to remove him, but have him executed realized he was at the end of his tether, and resigned.[4]

Dzhurov's son, Chavdar Dzhurov, was a military pilot who in 1965 set a record of the highest night parachute jump.

References
  1. "Нар. Республики Болгарии, генерал армии (1962),".
  2. "а с марта 1962 министр Нар. обороны. Д. — один из".
  3. Thompson, Wayne C. (2008). The World Today Series: Nordic, Central and Southeastern Europe 2008. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: Stryker-Post Publications. ISBN 978-1-887985-95-6.
  4. Sebetsyen, Victor (2009). Revolution 1989: The Fall of the Soviet Empire. New York City: Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-375-42532-2.
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