“Decorations of Bulgarian heads of state” Collection hall

The National Museum of Military History is the only museum in Bulgaria, which possesses, proved with documents, decorations of Bulgarian heads of state.

The collection of decorations of Prince Alexander I was donated by his wife, The Countess of Hartenau- Battemberg , within 1937 and 1938. For this donation the countess was awarded witth the golden badge for donators of the fund “Military Monuments and Graves”. She had been its honorary president till her death. The collection includes more than 150 decorations ; 50 of them are displayed in the hall.

The decorations, displayed in the collection hall , have emblematic presence in history and in the present , not only because they were possessed by heads of state of Bulgaria and Commanders- in Chiefs of the Bulgarian Army. To be awarded with such high decoration is the language of policy and diplomacy.

These decorations embody one century of history. They are a part of our heritage and the legitimacy of our country. Their presence here together is a part of the dialogue between the generations about our heritage and our memory.

The decorations of Tsar Boris III were given by the Commandant of the Palace , as was the personal wish and insistence of his wife Tsarina Johana. The royal family is a traditional donator of the National Museum of Military History. Thanks to it the museum possesses at present decorations, uniforms and personal belongings of Tsar Ferdinand I, Princess Marie- Luise, Tsarina Eleonor and Princess Clementine. The collection of Tsar Boris III includes 98 decorations; 36 of them are displayed in the hall.

Awarding of a head of state with order or medal is a part of the great tale of history, with sweet taste of victories, or bitterness of dreams that never came true. Our society conferred us the right to preserve unique richness. It is our duty to share it with the world , because we believe, that culture is a language without frontiers and it aims to make the world a better place.

The collection of decorations of Todor Zhivkov, a Bulgarian head of state, consecutively, President of the Council of Ministers and President of the Council of State of the Republic of Bulgaria , is given to the museum by his heirs in May 2005 to be displayed temporarily.

It comprises 73 decorations; 57 of them are displayed in the hall. The visitors can see in it as orders of the countries of the socialist camp, so some traditionally familiar decorations of countries of the European continent. The unknown for the Bulgarian visitors orders of countries of Asia, Africa and America call forth extreme interest in our audience.