Third Army (Bulgaria)
| Трета армия | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1912–1913 1915–1918 1941–1945 |
| Country |
 Bulgaria
|
| Allegiance |
Bulgarian Army
|
| Type | Field Army |
| Engagements |
Balkan Wars
World War I
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Radko Dimitriev Stefan Toshev |
Balkan Wars
World War I
The Bulgarian Third Army was a Bulgarian field army during the Balkan Wars, World War I, and World War II.
After 1907, during times of peace, the territory of Bulgaria was divided into three army inspectorates, each one comprising three divisional district. During war they formed three independent field armies. The Third Army Inspectorate, which had its seat in Ruse, formed the headquarters of the Third Army.
On 17 September 1912 Tsar Ferdinand signed a special decree ordering the mobilization of the Bulgarian armed forces, and in accordance with the constitution of the country assumed the nominal role of commander-in-chief. The three Bulgarian field armies were activated and began concentrating on the border with the Ottoman Empire. The Third Army was placed under the command of Lieutenant General Radko Dimitriev and his chief of staff, Colonel Konstantin Zhostov.
The chief of staff of the Bulgarian Army, Major General Ivan Fichev, had devised the final plan for the war with the Ottoman Empire more than a year earlier. He realized that Bulgaria had to seize the initiative immediately after the outbreak of the war by conducting a large offensive in Eastern Thrace. To achieve this task the general deployed all three Bulgarian field armies in the vicinity of the Thracian border. The Third Army had a special role in the plan as it was deployed to the northeast of the First Army and its concentration in that area was concealed by the Cavalry Division. General Fichev expected that the Ottomans would remain unaware of this important force and General Dimitriev would shatter the right wing of the unsuspecting Eastern Army. On 4 October O.S. the Third Army had the following composition:
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