Ivan Dochev
Encyclopedia
Ivan Dimitrov Dochev (7 January 1906–2005) was a Bulgaria
n far right
politician active either side of the Second World War.
the son of an army colonel, Dochev worked in the civil service from 1926 to 1932 when he went to Sofia University
to study law and politics. It was at university that he first became involved in politics, taking charge of the student organisation.
that officially led this movement. The group was initially anti-communist and nationalist but it soon came under the influence of Italian fascism
and Nazism
and added corporatism
and anti-Semitism
to its platform. In 1934 Dochev went to Nazi Germany
with Nikola Zhekov
and met both Adolf Hitler
and Alfred Rosenberg
. Dochev failed to come fully to terms with Hitler however as he would not support the Nazi demand for the Legions to overthrow King Boris
.
His movement adopted its more familiar name of the Union of Bulgarian National Legions
in 1937 and the following year it split with Dochev leading one wing away from the main group under Hristo Lukov
.
in accepting German-sponsored exile in Vienna
in 1944 and he served out the war there. After the war Dochev was given three separate death sentences in absentia for crimes such as sending Jews to extermination camps whilst mayor of Silistra
although he denied committing the crimes.
The sentences were not carried out however as he remained in exile and before long he returned to political activism, with his journal Bulgaria appearing in Salzburg
in 1945 followed by the formation of the virulently anti-communist Bulgarian National Front
in 1947. Meanwhile in 1948 he was awarded a doctorate by the University of Heidelberg for a thesis on the Bulgarian economy. Dochev had intended to settle in Germany but the waiting period for German citizenship was too long and so he emigrated to Canada
in 1951.
as soon as he arrived in 1951. His new journal Borba soon became central to anti-communist activity amongst North America
-based Bulgarians.
Eventually Dochev moved to the United States and settled in New York City
. Whilst there he became Bulgarian National President of the Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations
to which his Bulgarian National Front was affiliated. In 1982 he published the book Half century struggle against communism for the freedom of Bulgaria, detailing his political activities.
uncertain. By this time he claimed to be a supporter of the Union of Democratic Forces
although he also stated that he retained the same political ideas that he had had in the Legions. Ultimately he faced no sentence and Dochev—99 years old—died in 2005.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n far right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
politician active either side of the Second World War.
Early years
Born in ShumenShumen
Shumen is the tenth-largest city in Bulgaria and capital of Shumen Province. In the period 1950–1965 it was called Kolarovgrad, after the name of the communist leader Vasil Kolarov...
the son of an army colonel, Dochev worked in the civil service from 1926 to 1932 when he went to Sofia University
Sofia University
The St. Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia or Sofia University is the oldest higher education institution in Bulgaria, founded on 1 October 1888...
to study law and politics. It was at university that he first became involved in politics, taking charge of the student organisation.
Fascism
In 1933 he was a founder of the Union of Young National Legions and became part of the triumvirateTriumvirate
A triumvirate is a political regime dominated by three powerful individuals, each a triumvir . The arrangement can be formal or informal, and though the three are usually equal on paper, in reality this is rarely the case...
that officially led this movement. The group was initially anti-communist and nationalist but it soon came under the influence of Italian fascism
Italian Fascism
Italian Fascism also known as Fascism with a capital "F" refers to the original fascist ideology in Italy. This ideology is associated with the National Fascist Party which under Benito Mussolini ruled the Kingdom of Italy from 1922 until 1943, the Republican Fascist Party which ruled the Italian...
and Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
and added corporatism
Corporatism
Corporatism, also known as corporativism, is a system of economic, political, or social organization that involves association of the people of society into corporate groups, such as agricultural, business, ethnic, labor, military, patronage, or scientific affiliations, on the basis of common...
and anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
to its platform. In 1934 Dochev went to Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
with Nikola Zhekov
Nikola Zhekov
Nikola Todorov Zhekov was the Minister of War of Bulgaria in 1915 and served as Commander-in-Chief from 1915 to 1918 during World War I.-Biography:...
and met both Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
and Alfred Rosenberg
Alfred Rosenberg
' was an early and intellectually influential member of the Nazi Party. Rosenberg was first introduced to Adolf Hitler by Dietrich Eckart; he later held several important posts in the Nazi government...
. Dochev failed to come fully to terms with Hitler however as he would not support the Nazi demand for the Legions to overthrow King Boris
Boris III of Bulgaria
Boris III the Unifier, Tsar of Bulgaria , originally Boris Klemens Robert Maria Pius Ludwig Stanislaus Xaver , son of Ferdinand I, came to the throne in 1918 upon the abdication of his father, following the defeat of the Kingdom of Bulgaria during World War I...
.
His movement adopted its more familiar name of the Union of Bulgarian National Legions
Union of Bulgarian National Legions
The Union of Bulgarian National Legions was a fascist organization in Bulgaria that was formed in 1933.Also known as the Legionnaires’ Association, the movement was founded and led by Hristo Lukov, a Bulgarian army general who had commanded the 13th Division during the closing days of World War I...
in 1937 and the following year it split with Dochev leading one wing away from the main group under Hristo Lukov
Hristo Lukov
Hristo Nikolov Lukov was a Bulgarian general who led the Union of Bulgarian National Legions ....
.
War-time and European exile
Dochev was reconciled to Lukov during the Second World War and became one of the main supporters of the pro-Nazi general. His pro-German stance made him unpopular however, especially as the war neared its end. As a result he joined Aleksandar TsankovAleksandar Tsankov
Aleksander Tsolov Tsankov was a leading Bulgarian right wing politician between the two World Wars.-Biography:...
in accepting German-sponsored exile in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in 1944 and he served out the war there. After the war Dochev was given three separate death sentences in absentia for crimes such as sending Jews to extermination camps whilst mayor of Silistra
Silistra
Silistra is a port city of northeastern Bulgaria, lying on the southern bank of the lower Danube at the country's border with Romania. Silistra is the administrative centre of Silistra Province and one of the important cities of the historical region of Southern Dobrudzha...
although he denied committing the crimes.
The sentences were not carried out however as he remained in exile and before long he returned to political activism, with his journal Bulgaria appearing in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
in 1945 followed by the formation of the virulently anti-communist Bulgarian National Front
Bulgarian National Front
The Bulgarian National Front was an anti-communist political movement active amongst emigrant Bulgarian populations...
in 1947. Meanwhile in 1948 he was awarded a doctorate by the University of Heidelberg for a thesis on the Bulgarian economy. Dochev had intended to settle in Germany but the waiting period for German citizenship was too long and so he emigrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1951.
North American activity
Dochev continued his political activity in Canada, organising the Bulgarian National Front both there and in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as soon as he arrived in 1951. His new journal Borba soon became central to anti-communist activity amongst North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
-based Bulgarians.
Eventually Dochev moved to the United States and settled in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Whilst there he became Bulgarian National President of the Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations
Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations
Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations was a co-ordinating center for anti-Communist émigré political organizations from Soviet and other socialist countries. The A.B.N. formation dates back to an underground conference of representatives of non-Russian peoples that took place on November 1943, near...
to which his Bulgarian National Front was affiliated. In 1982 he published the book Half century struggle against communism for the freedom of Bulgaria, detailing his political activities.
Final years
Dochev, by then Honourary Chairman of the Bulgarian National Front, returned to Bulgaria late in 1991, still unsure about whether or not his death sentence continued to stand, with even President Zhelyu ZhelevZhelyu Zhelev
Zhelyu Mitev Zhelev is a Bulgarian politician and former dissident who was the first democratically elected President of Bulgaria, he is elected for his first mandate by the Parliament for the period 1990 to 1992, in January 1992 general elections are held when he is reelected for his second...
uncertain. By this time he claimed to be a supporter of the Union of Democratic Forces
Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)
The Union of Democratic Forces is a political party in Bulgaria, founded in 1989 as a union of several political organizations in opposition to the communist government. In February 1997 the Union was transformed into a single unified party with the same name...
although he also stated that he retained the same political ideas that he had had in the Legions. Ultimately he faced no sentence and Dochev—99 years old—died in 2005.