Street fighting

In the war-torn streets of Varna, tension and gunfire filled the air. A Romanian army squad, led by a determined squad leader, advanced cautiously through the crumbling cityscape. Amidst the chaos, a Romanian soldier with a thick beard narrowly escaped a sniper's bullet, which whizzed past him and struck the wall just centimeters from where he stood. His heart raced as he realized how close he had come to death.

"Keep moving!" shouted the squad leader, as his team quickly identified and neutralized the Bulgarian sniper hiding in a nearby dilapidated house. With the immediate threat eliminated, the squad continued their mission to sweep the area for any remaining enemy forces.

It had been two days since the Third Army's aggressive invasion of Varna. The once formidable Bulgarian defense had crumbled under the relentless assault, leaving the city's garrison drastically reduced from over 30,000 to fewer than 8,000 defenders. Many had been captured or killed, while others hid fearfully in their homes.

Lieutenant General Salamik, aware of the potential for remaining pockets of resistance, had ordered each division to deploy a regiment to comb through the captured territories. This strategy proved effective as they uncovered numerous remnants of the Bulgarian forces, including a significant group that had been part of a company.

The previous day, Major General Shaknosv of the Bulgarian army had made a desperate attempt to fortify the city by pulling in artillery and reinforcing positions. However, the Romanian forces, equipped with superior artillery, including 150 heavy guns, had laid waste to these preparations, leaving the defenders with little more than outdated coastal defense artillery and a few operational light cannons.

Amidst the ruins of the city hall, Major General Shaknosv met with a Romanian envoy who had come to negotiate the terms of surrender. The envoy conveyed Lieutenant General Salamik's message, emphasizing the futility of further resistance and the desire to spare the city from more bloodshed.

"Major General Shaknosv, the battle's outcome is already clear," the envoy said solemnly. "Continuing this fight will only lead to unnecessary casualties. Our commander, in a spirit of humanity, wishes for this conflict to end. We guarantee the safety of your people and their properties."

Despite the grim situation, Major General Shaknosv's resolve did not waver. "Thank you for your words, but I am prepared to give my life for my homeland," he responded firmly, his voice echoing the pride and sorrow of a soldier facing defeat.

The envoy, respecting the general's valor but concerned about the potential loss of life, suggested, "Perhaps you should consider the wishes of your soldiers. It might not be just your decision to make."

Torn between his duty and the lives of his men, Major General Shaknosv agreed to let his troops decide their fate. He requested a brief ceasefire from the envoy. "Can you grant us two hours before your forces advance? I wish to consult with my men."

The envoy nodded in agreement. "That is reasonable. We will hold our position for two hours."

After the envoy departed, Major General Shaknosv addressed his weary soldiers, offering them the choice to continue fighting or to surrender. The weight of the decision hung heavily in the air as each soldier contemplated their loyalty to their country and their desire to survive.

As the two hours elapsed, the outcome became clear. A group of Bulgarian soldiers, led by a lieutenant colonel, emerged from the city hall with a white flag draped over a rifle—a universal symbol of surrender. Major General Gelasim of the Romanian army, upon seeing this, signaled his men to secure the prisoners.

With the main resistance overcome, Major General Gelasim ordered the final bombardment of the city hall, ensuring no further threats could emerge. The heavy artillery roared as shells demolished the remaining structure, erasing the last stronghold of Bulgarian resistance in Varna.

The fall of Varna marked a significant victory for the Romanian forces, who had managed to achieve their strategic objectives with substantial but bearable losses. The Romanian Third Army, alongside the First and Second Armies, had successfully captured key territories, paving the way for further advances.

As the dust settled, the cost of the conflict became apparent. The Romanian Third Army had suffered casualties in the thousands, while the Bulgarian defenders had faced even greater losses, with many captured or killed. The harsh realities of war were felt by both sides, leaving a lasting impact on the soldiers and civilians caught in the crossfire.

Veliko Tarnovo, one of Bulgaria's three ancient capitals, is situated in the north-central region of the country. Historically, it served as the capital and played a pivotal role in Bulgaria's past. At the close of the 12th century, the Bulgarian nobility, led by the Assen brothers, rallied armed forces in Tarnovo to sever ties with the Byzantine Empire, establishing a new kingdom with its capital set in this city. In 1205, Baldwin of Flanders, the Latin Emperor, was captured by the Bulgarian king and imprisoned in Tarnovo. The presence of the archbishopric during this period also contributed to Tarnovo's renown for its ecclesiastical architecture, featuring the Archbishop's Ascension Church and the palace atop Tsarevets Hill. Notably, the Church of the 40 Martyrs, commissioned by Tsar Ivan Assen II (1218-1241), houses a celebrated marble column that commemorates the victory at the Battle of Lokotnica, marking Bulgaria's emergence as a dominant power in the Balkans.

From the 12th to the 14th centuries, Tarnovo was not only Bulgaria's strongest fortress but also its political, economic, and cultural hub. However, its prominence waned after the Ottoman Empire captured the city on July 17, 1393. The challenging terrain of Tarnovo, once second only to Constantinople and the second-largest city in the Balkans, saw the complete conquest of the Bulgarian Empire by the Turks three years later. The Bulgarian resistance continued to be centered in Tarnovo until the 17th century. On July 7, 1877, the city was liberated by the Russian army, ending the 480-year Ottoman rule. Following the Tenth Russo-Turkish War, Russia returned Tarnovo to Bulgaria. Today, Tarnovo, with a population of 56,000, is strategically located on the Yantra River, a tributary of the Danube. It connects to Sofia to the west and to the east lies Varna, Bulgaria's largest port previously occupied by Romania. South across the Balkan Mountains is Plovdiv, and to the north is the border city of Rousse, adjacent to Romania.

Given its strategic importance, the Chief of General Staff of Preshan resolved that Bulgaria would staunchly defend Tarnovo against Romanian capture. The Bulgarian forces gradually retracted from the frontline at Sehi, preparing for the impending conflict with the Romanian army in Tarnovo. At this critical juncture, Lieutenant General Mikhail Savov, Minister of the Bulgarian Sixth Army, was stationed in Tarnovo, alongside the first army commander, Lieutenant General Vasir Kudinchev, who had arrived earlier to establish command of the newly formed 14th Division. They were discussing the strategic deployment for the upcoming battle.

Upon receiving Romania's declaration of war, the First Army ceased its pursuit of the retreating Serbian forces, allowing the remnants that had fallen back from Bitola to Skopje to escape. "Lieutenant General Kudinchev, as the main force of the Bulgarian army, your first task is to defend the forces led by the Crown Prince of Romania at Zarevec Mountain," instructed Lieutenant General Savov. "We will also need to bolster our firepower," responded Lieutenant General Kudinchev, highlighting the depleted condition of their armaments after successive battles. Although there had been some replenishments, it was insufficient for a robust defense.

"Consider it done," replied Lieutenant General Savov promptly, indicating his prior contemplation of this request. He handed a signed list to Lieutenant General Kudinchev, continuing, "However, I need you to hold Mount Tsarevets to buy time for the reinforcements." Lieutenant General Kudinchev examined the list, which allocated 50,000 rifles, 120,000 rifle bullets, 31 Maxim machine guns, 540,000 machine gun bullets, 13 cannons, nearly 20,000 assorted shells, and additional supplies including iron, tents, sacks, and medicines.

"Is this sufficient?" questioned Lieutenant General Kudinchev, expressing his concerns about the robustness of the Romanian firepower and the First Army's capability to withstand it with the provided resources. Lieutenant General Savov, empathizing with his plight, explained the scarcity of supplies: "I've consolidated these from various sources. We've been stretched thin by consecutive wars, and our annual military budget of 50 million Levs has already strained Bulgaria's finances. Most of our arms are procured externally, which doesn't come cheap."

After the first Balkan War, Bulgaria's military reserves were severely depleted, having faced the brunt of the Ottoman forces. Without support from Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Romania, their situation could have been dire. Now, as the Minister of the Sixth Army, Lieutenant General Savov held the remaining military reserves. Understanding the constraints, Lieutenant General Kudinchev resolved, "I will do my utmost to hold the position on Mount Zarevets."

Lieutenant General Savov, somewhat ruefully, added, "If it weren't for our depleted reserves, I wouldn't have had to prepare so early. But rest assured, in two days, the king's army will arrive, and I will relieve you then."

Taking the reassurance, Lieutenant General Kudinchev donned his military cap, ready to replace the 14th Division. "The newly formed division isn't quite prepared to face the Romanians," he stated. After his departure, Lieutenant General Savov revisited a report on military supplies, contemplating the gravity of the situation.

Lieutenant General Kudinchev, now outside the headquarters, dispatched personnel with the signed list to collect the allocated weapons and supplies. He then rallied 76,000 troops from the First Army to assume the position of the 14th Division, bracing for the imminent battle.