Participation of the armed forces in the preparation and proclamation of
the Unification of Bulgaria in 1885

According to the resolutions of the Berlin Congress , the Bulgarian territory, conquered in the Russian-Turkish War /1877- 1878/ and fastened by the preliminary Peace Treaty of San- Stefano, was parceled out. The units of the Bulgarian Territorial Army, dislocated on the territory of Eastern Roumelia, were detached and formed an independent army. According to the Constitutional Statute of Eastern Roumelia /the Constitution/ , it consisted of – local militia (an army) and gendarmerie /police forces/.In 1879 the militia of Eastern Roumelia comprised 12 battalions (7500 men), and the gendarmerie- 12 infantry companies, one horse gendarme company and one half squadron /totally 1500 men/.Through the gymnastic shooting clubs started mass military training of the male population in the area. On September 6th , 1885 the troops of the garrison of Plovdiv, together with the rebels’ armed detachments, overthrew the Roumelia’s government and pronounced officially the unification of Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Roumelia under the scepter of Prince Alexander I. The first step of the union of the Bulgarian people was realized. Created were opportunities for completion of the Bulgarian unification,for cultural development and economic integration with the European countries.Eliminated was the artificial division of the army between the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Roumelia.

After the victory at Slivnitza the Bulgarian army went into decisive counter-offensive.By fierce fights were captured Dragoman and Zaribrod, then, on November 15th ,1885 the Bulgarian troops seized Pirot. Only the energetic interference of Austria- Hungary compelled Bulgaria to stop its vehement offensive.

On February 19th ,1886 was signed the Peace Treaty of Bucharest, which restored the peace between Serbia and Bulgaria. The victory in the campaign cost Bulgarian people 700 casualties and 4 500 wounded. Thanks to it, on March 24th , 1886 , was concluded the Act of Top Hane, by which actually, the Great Powers recognized the Unification of Bulgaria.

Not long after the Unification , the young Bulgarian army had to defend it by the force of arms. On November 2nd , 1885 Serbia declared war on Bulgaria. Dislocated at the Turkish border , the Bulgarian army , in three days only, by march maneuver, was re-distributed at the west front. First and fourth battalions of 1st Sofia infantry regiment, in fog and rain, passed 86 kilometers. The population of Slivniza met them with cheers “hurray”. Eight infantry regiment covered 95 km for 36 hours. First infantry battalion of 1st artillery regiment, under command of Captain Petar Tantilov, for two days and nights incessant march, covered 146 kilometers. European military specialists mentioned, that the fight of Slivniza was won by the “feet of the Bulgarian soldiers”. The heroic battle of Slivniza between 5th and 7th November 1885 led to crushing and retreat of the main forces of the Serbian Army.