Hristo Lukov

Hristo Nikolov Lukov (Bulgarian: Христо Николов Луков; 6 January 1887 in Varna – 13 February 1943 in Sofia) was a Bulgarian lieutenant-general, politician, and Minister of War, who led the nationalistic Union of Bulgarian National Legions (UBNL), an organisation largely supportive of Nazi ideology. He was assassinated in 1943 by two members of the Bulgarian resistance movement, Violeta Yakova and Ivan Burudzhiev.

Hristo Lukov
Христо Луков
Hristov Lukov in full military regalia
Minister of War
In office 23 November 1935 – 24 January 1938
Prime Minister	Georgi Kyoseivanov
Preceded by	Stefan Tsanev
Succeeded by	Teodosi Daskalov
Personal details
Born	Hristo Nikolov Lukov (1887-01-06)6 January 1887 Varna, Kingdom of Bulgaria
Died	13 February 1943(1943-02-13) (aged 56) Sofia, Kingdom of Bulgaria
Manner of death	Assassination by gunshot
Political party	Union of Bulgarian National Legions
Education	Vasil Levski National Military University
Military service
Allegiance	Kingdom of Bulgaria
Branch/service	Bulgarian Land Forces
Years of service	1907–1932
Rank	Lieutenant general
Battles/wars	First Balkan War Second Balkan War World War I
Awards	Order of Bravery

Military and political career

First World War

Hristo Nikolov Lukov was promoted during World War I to the rank of a major and a commander of an artillery battalion. 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.

Interwar period

During the interwar period Hristo Nikolov Lukov became the commander of the Army School of Artillery, of the Training Section of the General Staff's Artillery Inspection, and of the 2nd and 3rd Infantry divisions.^{[citation needed]}

Between 1935–1938 Lukov served as Minister of War, in which position he created close ties to high-ranking Nazi officials.^[1]

Second World War

Hristov Lukov earlier in his military career ca. 1930

During the Second World War he was a key supporter of the Axis powers, particularly Nazi Germany. This was largely due to his close relations with the Third Reich^[2][3][4] and his activities as leader of UBNL. Lukov was considered one of the most prominent advocates of antisemitic ideas in Bulgaria.^[5]

Death

Lukov was shot dead by Communist partisans on 13 February 1943 in Sofia. According to the book In the Name of the People,^[6] he was ambushed by two resistance fighters^[7] in front of his apartment in Sofia. Although struck by one bullet, he fought back one of the partisans, Ivan Burudzhiev, but the second one, Violeta Yakova, fired two more shots and killed him.

'Lukov March'

From 2003 to 2019, the far-right Bulgarian National Union hosted an annual 'Lukov March' to commemorate "fallen heroes of Bulgaria" with a torch march, taking place in February in Sofia. It persistently caused controversy and was subject to multiple court bans. In 2020, the Supreme Administrative Court upheld a ban by the Sofia municipality so that the evening procession was cancelled. Less than 200 supporters of Lukov still gathered for the laying of wreaths at the house where Lukov was killed. Over one hundred people gathered for a counter-protest in central Sofia earlier in the day, promoting "No Nazis on the streets".^[8][9][5]

Awards and decorations

• Order of Bravery, 4th degree, first and second class
• Order of St Alexander, 3rd class without swords and 4th class with swords
• Order of Military Merit, 1st class
• Iron Cross of 1939, 2nd class (Germany)

See also

• List of Bulgarian generals in the Kingdom of Bulgaria

Sources

• Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right Since 1890 edited by Philip Rees, 1991, ISBN 0-13-089301-3