REMEMBRANCE IN TIME - Index of

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Remembrance in Time
the existing of forms of armed resistance to the imposed communist model of governance
in the country and explain the role that was assigned to the Internal troops to protect the
regime and to suppress any attempt to oppose the government. The stated authors placed
in science literature the theme for the anarchists’ role in the political life of Bulgaria after
September 9 1944, their relationship to the established power and their involvement in
resistance to the imposed regime 3 .
In the private archive group of Vesel Momchev stored in State Archive - Veliko
Tarnovo, are collected documents, memoirs, and periodicals related to the history of the
anarchist movement in Bulgaria. Among them are those that relate to immigrant anarchist
group active in the region of Pavel banya village, Kazanlak, in 1953-1954. These
documents describe the organization of immigrant anarchists in Paris (Union of Bulgarian
Overseas Anarchist) and the relations between its members and the team led by Hristo
Nestorov, and also contain information about life and views of the group participants,
preparation and implementation of the mission in Bulgaria. Most of these documents are
memories of Hristo Nestorov 4 , leader of the team, of relatives and his followers, his
letters and notes related to the organization of anarchists in France published in the
newsletter "In defense of anarchy", issued in Paris. Documents for the mission in
Bulgaria by Doncho Karaivanov 5 , the only one who managed to escape from the
blockade in the region of Pavel Banya village, are also kept in the group. Among the
archival materials are copies of some records of interrogations of captured Milyou
Ivanov 6 by State security, posts in that newsletter "In defense of anarchy", dedicated to
him, and a copy of the verdict of the supporters of the anarchists. Of particular interest are
documents related to Hr. Nestorov, not only because they are most like quantity, but
because of his personal qualities and devotion to the ideas of Anarchy he enjoyed a high
prestige among the anarchists in Bulgaria and abroad and also was a great leader and of
group of anarchists that acted in the region of Pavel banya village.
Chronology of events related to the preparation of the group and its arrival in Bulgaria is
generally known. In the autumn of 1952 Hr. Nestorov, D. Karaivanov and M. Ivanov assisted
by Yanko Dishliev contacted with U.S. intelligence agencies and passed six-month courses in
radio telegraphy and methods of illegal opposition. After an unsuccessful attempt to be
transferred to Bulgaria in the spring of 1953, in September the same year, they were parachuted
into the region of Pavel banya, Kazanlak. Then they established relations with their relatives
who assist them with food and weapons. They spent winter in a dugout in the Kavak dere area
south of Pavel banya. But their presence was not unnoticed. On March 22 1954 Minister of the
Interior decided to conduct an operation to eradicate the group. The operation was to be held
by forces of the Second and Third Operational Regiments of Internal troops and the Minister
prepares the necessary documents. On March 25 and 26 1954 a military operation for
capturing the so called “Parachute-diverse group” was held by parts of the Internal troops and
State Security parts also. The count of participants in the large operation was a total of 1676
soldiers, 108 of them were officers. The result of the operation was: one saboteur captured, one
killed (referred to be the "chief" of the group); one automatic gun, three ordinary guns, three
portable radios and money also confiscated. Loss of the Internal troops, according to saved
documents were one severely wounded by a grenade, and according to other documents - one
private wounded who died later, and one wounded officer 7 . The publication of P. Stefanov
stated that Hr. Nestorov "exploded two grenades, which were hidden under his body, killing
and injuring over 10 people" 8 . Only D. Karaivanov, along with his wife Emilia, managed to
break the blockade, cross the border and return to Paris.
The purpose of this scientific report is to clarify the reasons and the motives that
prompted the three anarchists to take risky action of returning to Bulgaria to participate in