Nikola Zhekov
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| Nikola Zhekov
|
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|---|---|
| 6 January 1865 – 1 November 1949 | |
| Place of birth |  Sliven, Bulgaria |
| Place of death |  Füssen, Germany |
| Allegiance | Bulgaria |
| Years of service | 1885 - 1918 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | Commander in chief of the Bulgarian Army |
Nikola Todorov Zhekov (1864 - 1949) was a Minister of War of Bulgaria in 1915 and served as Commander-in-Chief from 1916-1918 during World War I.
Zhekov served during two earlier conflicts: Serbo-Bulgarian War in 1885, and the Balkan Wars 1912-1913, where during the latter he served as Second Army's Chief of Staff. In August-October 1915 Zhekov was Bulgaria's Minister of War, working to prepare his country for its entry into the First World War on the side of the Central Powers (and determined upon an invasion of Serbia).
After the declaration of war to Serbia, Zhekov was consequently appointed the army's Commander-in-Chief on the Balkan Front. Attached to Mackensen's Army Group, the Bulgarian First Army liaised with the Germany and Austria-Hungary in crushing the Serbian army at home. Under Mackensen's command, the Bulgarian Army also participated in the militarily highly successful Romanian Campaign. Separately, Zhekov managed in throwing back the Allied offensives in Salonika in the autumn of 1916 and the spring of 1917 at the Battles of Florina and Lake Prespa. Zhekov's force also participated in the successful attack against the port of Kavalla in August-September 1917.
After the war Zhekov chose to flee into exile in Germany. He returned in 1921 to defend his reputation and was setenced to ten years imprisonment but was granted amnesty after spending three years in jail.
In the years after that Zhekov read lectures in the Military Academy and wrote several books regarding the millitary science and his memoirs. On 6 May 1936 he was promoted to general of the infantry which was the highes rank in the Bulgarian Army.
During World War II General Zhekov established a friendly relationship with Adolf Hitler and following the defeat of France in 1940 he was invited by the Führer to visit Paris as his guest. After the government changes in september 1944 General Zhekov, fearing political persecutions, decided to immigrate in Germany. On 1 February 1945 he was sentenced to death by the People's Court established by the government of the Fatherland Front. However his whereabouts were unknown to the government and the sentenced wasn't carried out.
Zhekov died on 1 November 1949 in the Bavarian town of Füssen. On 7 November 1992 his remains were returned to Bulgaria and were laid to rest in the Military Mausoleum in Sofia .
