RESHUFFLE IN THE BULGARIAN MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004500890009-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 12, 2007
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: July 22, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/06/14: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004500890009-9
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains Information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
SECRET/CONTROL - U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT Reshuffle in the Bulgarian
Ministry of National Defense
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
C4 A, S 540
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 22 July 19511
NO. OF PAGES 2
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OP CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
Is An important reshuffle has taken place in the Ministry of National Defense
following the death of General Grekov. Lieutenant General Ivan Kinov was
appointed first vice minister nd is chiefly responsible for military training.'
Lieutenant General Yonko Panov' was appointed second vice minister and commander
of the Rear Services, to replace General Milchev. Lieutenant General Zakhari
Zakhariev, commander of the Bulgarian Air Force,3 was appointed third vice
minister and is responsible for the selection and political training of the
cadres; he rgplaces both in title and in duties, General Atanas Atanasov,
whose work Was,consideredinadequate.4
General Panchev, Chief of
motif of the Bulgarian jar Force, allegedly succeeded General Zakhariev as
Chief of the Bulgarian Air Force.
Potnments
1. It is now public knowledge that General Kinov is vice minister of National
Defense. It is logical that he should be first vice ministeer and in
charge of training since it is well known that he is reputed' to be the
most capable general of the Bulgarian Army and that the former first vice
minister of National Defense, General Grekov, was in charge c)f the training
of officer cadres.
2. The report concerning Yonko Panov is also probably true. Airing the 1
May celebration, General Panov stood at the right of General Kinov, who,
in turn, was at the right of General Panchevski, Minister of N&t ional
Defense.
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25X1
_ Approved For Release 2007/06/14: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004500890009-9
 Approved For Release 2007/06/14: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004500890009-9
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3? It is not known definitely if the duties of the third vice minister of
National Defense are actually those he is credited with here or if they
do not rather apply to the Bulgarian Air force only. General Zakhariev
and General Atanas Atanasov are in fact both fliers. It is also possible
that General Panchev may have taken over command of the Air Force. It
was he who, on 1 April 1954, inaugurated the Art Exposition of the Bulgarian
Air Force.
The reshuffle which has taken place in the Ministry of National Defense
constitutes, because of the qualities and the authority of the new
appointees, a definite improvement in this ministry. If the information
concerning the duties of the third vice minister and concerning the
reasons for General Atanasov's falling into disgrace is true, it may
mean that the state of mind of the officers is not satisfactory.
SECRET/CONTROL - U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2007/06/14: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004500890009-9