Vladimir Stoychev
Encyclopedia
Vladimir Dimitrov Stoychev was a Bulgaria
n Colonel General
, diplomat and horse rider.
Vladimir Stoychev was born in Sofia
, the capital of the Principality of Bulgaria
. He graduated from the Theresian Military Academy
in Vienna
, and the Military School and the Military Academy in Sofia. As a serviceman in the Bulgarian Army, Stoychev participated in the Balkan Wars
and World War I
.
In the interwar period
, Stoychev represented Bulgaria in the equestrian events at the 1924 Summer Olympics
in Paris
and the 1928 Summer Olympics
in Amsterdam
, among other competitions. From 1930 to 1934, Stoychev was a Bulgarian attaché
in France
and the United Kingdom
. In 1934, he was appointed head of the Sofia Cavalry Academy, but he was fired from the army a year later due to his antimonarchist views; he was also imprisoned a number of times due to his political stance.
In 1944, Stoychev became a member of the Fatherland Front
's Bureau of the National Committee. During World War II
, Stoychev was in command of the Bulgarian First Army after the country switched allegiance to the Allies
. Under Stoychev, the Bulgarian First Army drew the Nazis
out of much of Yugoslavia
and Hungary
, reaching the Austrian Alps by May 1945. On 8 May 1945, Vladimir Stoychev signed a demarkation agreement with British V Corps
commander Charles Keightley
in southern Austria
. On 24 June 1945, he took part in the Moscow Victory Parade
.
In 1945–1947, Vladimir Stoychev was Bulgaria's representative in Washington, D.C.
and the United Nations
. Upon his return, he became Chairman of the Supreme Committee of Sports with the Council of Ministers. From 1951 or 1952 to 1982, he presided over the Bulgarian Olympic Committee
; he remained honorary chairman until his death. From 1952 to 1987, he was also an International Olympic Committee
member. Vladimir Stoychev died in Sofia in 1990, at an age of 98.
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 Colonel General
Colonel General
Colonel General is a senior rank of General. North Korea and Russia are two countries which have used the rank extensively throughout their histories...
, diplomat and horse rider.
Vladimir Stoychev was born in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, the capital of the Principality of Bulgaria
Principality of Bulgaria
The Principality of Bulgaria was a self-governing entity created as a vassal of the Ottoman Empire by the Treaty of Berlin in 1878. The preliminary treaty of San Stefano between the Russian Empire and the Porte , on March 3, had originally proposed a significantly larger Bulgarian territory: its...
. He graduated from the Theresian Military Academy
Theresian Military Academy
The Theresian Military Academy is an academy, where the Austrian Armed Forces train their officers. The Academy is located in the castle of Wiener Neustadt in Lower Austria.- History :...
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...
, and the Military School and the Military Academy in Sofia. As a serviceman in the Bulgarian Army, Stoychev participated in the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
and World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
In the interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
, Stoychev represented Bulgaria in the equestrian events at the 1924 Summer Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and the 1928 Summer Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, among other competitions. From 1930 to 1934, Stoychev was a Bulgarian attaché
Attaché
Attaché is a French term in diplomacy referring to a person who is assigned to the diplomatic or administrative staff of a higher placed person or another service or agency...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In 1934, he was appointed head of the Sofia Cavalry Academy, but he was fired from the army a year later due to his antimonarchist views; he was also imprisoned a number of times due to his political stance.
In 1944, Stoychev became a member of the Fatherland Front
Fatherland Front (Bulgaria)
The Fatherland Front was originally a Bulgarian political resistance movement during World War II. The Zveno movement, the communist Bulgarian Workers Party, a wing of the Agrarian Union and the Bulgarian Social Democratic Workers Party, were all part of the FF...
's Bureau of the National Committee. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Stoychev was in command of the Bulgarian First Army after the country switched allegiance to the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
. Under Stoychev, the Bulgarian First Army drew the Nazis
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...
out of much of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, reaching the Austrian Alps by May 1945. On 8 May 1945, Vladimir Stoychev signed a demarkation agreement with British V Corps
V Corps (United Kingdom)
V Corps was an army corps of the British Army in both the First and Second World War. It was first organised in February 1915 and fought through World War I on the Western front...
commander Charles Keightley
Charles Keightley
General Sir Charles Frederic Keightley, GCB, GBE, DSO was a senior officer in the British Army during and following World War II.-Military career:...
in southern Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. On 24 June 1945, he took part in the Moscow Victory Parade
Moscow Victory Parade of 1945
The Moscow Victory Parade of 1945 was a victory parade held by the Soviet army after the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War. It took place in the Soviet capital of Moscow, mostly centering around a military parade through Red Square...
.
In 1945–1947, Vladimir Stoychev was Bulgaria's representative in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. Upon his return, he became Chairman of the Supreme Committee of Sports with the Council of Ministers. From 1951 or 1952 to 1982, he presided over the Bulgarian Olympic Committee
Bulgarian Olympic Committee
The Bulgarian Olympic Committee is a non-profit organization serving as the National Olympic Committee of Bulgaria and a part of the International Olympic Committee...
; he remained honorary chairman until his death. From 1952 to 1987, he was also an International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
member. Vladimir Stoychev died in Sofia in 1990, at an age of 98.