Modernization of the Bulgarian Army

The Ministry of War undertook measures for accelerated enlargement and modernization of the Bulgarian Army. Commenced was build up of mass army with divisional organization and system of completion, which gives opportunities for training of the whole male population. High fighting efficiency was kept , built was wartime army, equivalent to the armies of the countries. In early 20th c. the Bulgarian armed forces had at disposal for war time 300 000 well-trained men and 1 400 officers .The Bulgarian Army turned into an army of European type and was no way inferior to most modern armies, it was only lesser in strength.

The ethnic Bulgarian population, which remained within the borders of the Ottoman Empire, waged incessant struggle for its liberation. In 1903 burst out the Ilinden- Preobrazhenie Uprising. During the uprising 26 408 men fight to death against 350 000 regular Turkish Army and bashi- bazouk. After three months of resistance the uprising was suppressed amid bloodshed.

Many Bulgarian servicemen took part in the preparation and in the fights during Ilinden- Preobrazhenie Uprising 1903 ,among them – 48 officers of the army of the Principality of Bulgaria: 1 general ,1 colonel, 1 lieutenant colonel, 4 captains ,20 lieutenants and 21 second lieutenants. Much larger was the number of the non- commissioned officers and soldiers, who together with the regular members of the Internal Macedonian and Edirnean Organization were the core of the rebels’ army.Tens of servicemen of the army of Principality of Bulgaria gave their support, without leaving their service and Bulgaria’s territory.