Colonel-General Avgust Hristov Kabakchiev, Head Of The Air Force.

[CtahhR]

Here is my latest acquisition. A very Brezhnev-esque 70th Birthday present to a high ranking life-long Bulgarian Communist, Great Patriotic War combat veteran of the Soviet Air Force - Colonel-General Avgust Hristov Kabakchiev. More pictures and information to come. This Gold Star "Hero Of Socialist Labour" is a Type 3 and mint marked for the Bulgarian Mint and made of 14K gold.
More information is forthcoming.

[CtahhR]

Colonel-General Avgust Hristov Kabakchiev was born in Sofia, Bulgaria on 14th May 1914.
His was the son of Hristo Kabkakchiev (one of the founders of the Bulgarian Social Democratic Workers' Party) and after the family fled to Vienna due to "political" problems. The family then relocated to Moscow in 1927 where Avgust was educated. In 1933 he joined the Nikolai Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy from which he graduated with an Engineering degree and a commission in Soviet Air Force. He served on the Kalinin Front from October 1942 in the 274 Fighter Aviation Division as a Military Engineer 3rd Rank. The 274th Fighter Aviation was re-designated the 4th Guards in January 1943 and participated in the Battle for Velikiye Luki among others. By the end of the Great Patriot War he had risen to the rank of Guards Major and had been decorated with two "For Combat Merits" medals a "Red Star" and "Red Banner". After victory Guards Major in the Soviet Armed Forces was promoted to Colonel in the new Bulgarian People's Armed Forces in May 1945. Avgust finally reached the rank of Colonel-General in 1965. In 1966 he participated in the Bulgarian investigation of TABSO Flight LZ101 in which 82 people died near Bratislava. The Hero Of Socialist Labour Colonel-General himself died 6th May 1999.

Colonel-General Kabakchiev held the following positions;

Chief Engineer of the Bulgarian Air Force
Deputy Commander of the Bulgaria Air Force
Deputy Chief of the Chief Staff of the Army from 1956 to 1960
Deputy Minister of National Defence 1960 to 1972
Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Planning 1973 to 1982
Vice President of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale 1983 to 1989
President of the Bulgarian-Vietnamese Friendship Society

Here is his Radio Free Europe Biography from 16th June 1976.

"15. KADAKCHIEV, August (age 62)
Colonel general, deputy chairman of State Planning Committee since 1972.
Son of prominent Communist Hristo Kabakchiev, who died after emigrating to USSR
Emigrated with his father 1927, served in Soviet Army, graduated from Military
Engineering Academy. After 1944 officer in Bulgarian army. 1960-1972 Deputy
Minister of National Defence. CC candidate member since 1966."

Here are Soviet Records of Kabakchiev's first award a Medal "For Combat Merits" awarded 4th February 1943 which shows him as a very competent Aircraft Engineer.

[CtahhR]

Here are the citations for Colonel General Kabakchiev's "Hero Of Socialist Labour" which I will translate into English so it's easier for all to understand.

I am also working on Researching this General more. At the moment I believe his list of awards are:

Bulgaria,
Hero Of Socialist Labour
Order "Georgi Dimitrov" (Three Times)
Order "People's Republic Of Bulgaria" 1st Class (Twice) 2nd Class (Twice)
Order "9th September" 2nd Class With Swords and 3rd Class With Swords
Medal "For Honourable Service To The Armed Forces Of The People's Republic Of Bulgaria" 1st Class
Medal "For Participation In The Anti-Fascist Struggle"
Medal "Patriotic War 1944-1945"
Jubilee Medal "20th Anniversary Of The Bulgarian People's Army"
Jubilee Medal "25th Anniversary Of People's Rule"
Jubilee Medal "25th Anniversary Of The Bulgarian People's Army"
Jubilee Medal "90th Anniversary Of The Birth Of Georgi Dimitrov"
Jubilee Medal "30th Anniversary Of Bulgarian People's Army"
Jubilee Medal "30th Anniversary Of Socialist Bulgaria"
Medal "30th Anniversary Of Victory Over Fascist Germany"
Jubilee Medal "100th Anniversary Of The April Uprising"
Jubilee Medal "100th Anniversary Of Liberation From The Ottoman Empire 3-3-1878 - 3-3-1978"
Jubilee Medal "1300th Anniversary Of Bulgaria"
Jubilee Medal "100th Birthday Of George Dimitrov"
Jubilee Medal "40th Anniversary Of Socialist Bulgaria"
Jubilee Medal "40th Anniversary Of Victory Over Hitler's Fascism"
Jubilee Medal "50th Anniversary Of Victory Over Germany"

Soviet Union,
Order "October Revolution"
Order "Red Banner"
Order "Patriotic War" 2nd Class
Order "Red Star"
Medal "For Combat Merits"
Medal "For Combat Merits"
Medal "For Victory Over Germany In The Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
Medal "For Strengthening Military Cooperation"
Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years Of Victory In The Great Patriotic War 1941-45"
Jubilee Medal "50 Years Of The Armed Forces Of The USSR"
Jubilee Medal "Thirty Years Of Victory In The Great Patriotic War 1941-45"
Jubilee Medal "Forty Years Of Victory In The Great Patriotic War 1941-45"

Russian Federation,
Jubilee Medal "Fifty Years Of Victory In The Great Patriotic War 1941-45"

Yugoslavia,
Order "Partisan Star" 2nd Class

Czechoslavakia,
War Cross 1939

[CtahhR]

Dearest Comrade Colonel General Kabakchiev,
On behalf of the leadership, political affairs and entire staff of 22,900 and on their behalf most warmly. Congratulations on the occasion of your 70th birthday and award you with the highest title "Hero Of Socialist Labour".
In your person, we welcome war-communist, devoted your life to the cause of the Party and the people, Soviet alumnus, commander of the invincible Soviet Army having undergone the harsh school of the Great Patriotic War, enthusiastic supporter of unbreakable Bulgarian-Soviet friendship.
We appreciate your highly worthy engineering and technical knowledge and extensive combat experience, dedicated work and your personal contribution to the creation and development of aviation mechanical service of the BPA. With feelings of deep respect shaking the hand of the creator of the headquarters of weaponry and equipment.
Nearly four decades with legendary tenacity, high responsibility and enthusiasm rendering strength and knowledge to enhance the combat readiness of the national army.
Your great humility, respect and general warmness to people, readiness to assist have emulated, a great political leader and commander if the Bulgaria People's Army.
On the day of your birthday a brotherly embrace and wish you good health, happiness, joy and prosperity.
May you be for many years still building and protecting for the developed socialist society, for the benefit and prosperity of the dear homeland - People's Republic Of Bulgaria.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Deputy Minister Of National Defence and commander of unit 22900
Colonel-General Todorov

Commander of Political Affairs of Unit 22900
Major-General Parmakov

17th May 1984 - Sofia

[CtahhR]

Honourable Avgust Hristovich!

on behalf of the generals, admirals and officers of the representation of the main force commander of the Bulgarian People's Army and from my own heart, to a brother, to congratulate you on your birthday and 70 years since your birth and assign you the title "Hero Of Socialist Labour".
Your whole life is a communist past, Soviet army veteran of World War II, devoted to the cause of the Communist Party, The cause of the people.

Your personal contribution to a rich military and engineering experience in the Great Patriotic War, tireless energy and persistence ensured the establishment of the aircraft maintenance service of the Bulgarian People's Army, base of the main control of weapons and equipment and training personnel, which was the basis for a technically strong fighting force, ready to defend their socialist homeland and perform tasks in a single fraternal union of Warsaw Pact countries

Your exceptional modesty and principle warmth towards the people are an example to be emulated as a great political leader and military commander of Bulgarian People's Army.

This celebration and memorable day we wish you Comrade Avgust Khristovich, good health, great personal and family happiness and new successes in your tireless efforts to strengthen indestructible Bulgarian-Soviet friendship.

Colonel-General V. Jakushin 17th May 1984

[CtahhR]

Here is the case for the award. Unlike other Bulgarian award cases I have in my collection (Including HSL) this case differs as it has a golden frame. Which is quite in contrast to most of the simple communist cases. Other higher quality cases usually did not state the name of the award as to be used for any award to recipients who were seen as required to have a higher quality case.

His son Hristo Avgustov Kabakchiev is also an Alumnus of the Zhukov academy and is a Doctor and Professor of Aviation Technology with an outstanding record of achievement and currently works at Sofia University.

[CtahhR]

I have found a scan of Kabakchiev's first Bulgarian award. Order "9th September 1944" 3rd Class With Swords #99 awarded 20th December 1946 at which time he was a Colonel and "Commander of a regiment". I'd love to get this into my collection but the dealer who currently has this document and award has not only burnt me with a fake before but wants over five times its value so it looks like this group will remain split. At least I got a picture.

[Ruiz]

Hi, congrats, very good !!!!!! I love your document group.

[CtahhR]

With gratitude to the Free! Russian archive site! Now Guards Engineer-Captain Kabakchiev's citation for his second award a "Red Star" from 31st July 1943. Translation to follow (Although the handwriting is a bit tricky to say the least).

[RedMaestro2]

If you weren't aware already, Kabakchiev's uniform and full set of decorations was on sale on ebay last January. I wish I had taken better notes on the listing. Here's a picture though.