The exhibition “When Unity Won” has been prepared on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the Serbo-Bulgarian War (1885).
The narrative of the exposition presents the united efforts of the army and the people, determined to defend the Unification, through original belongings of some of the key participants in the war. The role of the first Bulgarian Knyaz Alexander I is presented through the battle overcoat he wore at the front, his ceremonial cavalry uniform and saddlecloth, his personal shashka sabre, and his decorations.
The exhibition also features original items belonging to some of the most distinguished commanders. Among them are the decorations of Capt. Konstantin Nikiforov – the first Bulgarian Minister of War, items of future generals – decorations of Lt. Col. Danail Nikolaev – commander of the Eastern and later the Western Corps, and of Capt. Stefan Toshev – commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Bdin Regiment, inkwell of Capt. Nikola Ivanov – chief of staff of the central column during the advance on Pirot, as well as decorations of Capt. Kosta Panitsa, commander of the Smolyan Partisan Detachment.
A place in the story of the events happened 140 years ago also finds the future prime minister Konstantin Stoilov, a volunteer and platoon commander in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. A curious detail is an order awarding a medal for participation in the Serbo-Bulgarian War to Jacques Batiste Daley, a French citizen and volunteer in the Trun National Volunteer Unit No. 1, as well as the dies for the 1885 Commemorative Medal of the Serbo-Bulgarian War.
The feat in the name of Bulgaria’s unification is also recalled through the flags – symbols of military honor and fighting spirit. Among these sacred relics are the flags that took part in the decisive Battle of Slivnitsa, including those of the 1st Infantry Sofia Regiment, 3rd Infantry Bdin Regiment, 4th Infantry Pleven Regiment, 7th Infantry Preslav Regiment and others.
The flag of the 8th Infantry Primorski Regiment recalls the successful defense of the Vidin fortress against the Serbian Timok Division, and the powerful volunteer movement is represented by the flags of the Shumen Volunteer Company and the Silistra Defense Committee “Self-Defense”.
