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CV 33

In 1935, 14 Carro Veloce CV 33 tankettes were acquired. Another source, reports that in 1993, ten CV 33s, armed with Schwarzlose machineguns, were furnished to Bulgaria. 

Vickers 6-ton tank Mk. E Alternative B

8 Vickers 6-ton tanks Mk. E alternative B were acquired in mid 1936 and delivered in 1938.

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T-11 (LT vz. 35)

In mid 1939 Germany sold or handed over 26 LT vz. 35 tanks built by CKD. 10 improved LT vz. 35 tanks built for Afghanistan were handed over to Bulgaria as T-11. The T-11 was fitted with a Skoda A7 37mm main gun.

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Renault R-35

In 1940/41, Germany sold some 40 Renault R-35 tanks to Bulgaria. Shown here in Bulgarian service.

Gerat 81 Leichte Panzerspahwagen (2cm) Sd Kfz. 222

13 units were obtained.

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Gerat 82 Leichte Panzerspahwagen (Fu) Sd Kfz 223

In order to provide a light armored car with a long range radio set, the Sd Kfz 221 design was slightly modified and became the Sd Kfz 223. Six series were produced up to early 1944 when production ceased in favor of semi track radio vehicles. 7 units were obtained by Bulgaria.

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PzKpfw. IV Ausf. G
Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf G Sd Kfz 161/1 und 161/2

Shown is an early model G. Later models were equipped with "Schurzen" (side plates designed to help deflect hollow charge projectiles). This vehicle was known as the Maybach T-IV by the Bulgarians. 46 units were obtained, though in the book "Equipment and armor in the Bulgarian Army-Armored Vehicles  1935-45" by Kaloyan Matev, he says the number was 97.

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StuG III Ausf. G
7.5cm Sturmgeschutz 40 Ausf G Sd Kfz 142/1

The Ausf G was the last production series of the StuG. Comming off the assembly-line in December 1942. The Ausf G was produced until the end of the war with no major changes made to the design. The stug III was called SO-75 by the Bulgarians. The initials "SO" stood for Samochodno Oryzie. 25 units were obtained, though in the book "Equipment and armor in the Bulgarian Army-Armored Vehicles  1935-45" by Kaloyan Matev, he says the number was 55.

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PzKpfw. 38(t)

10 units were obtained.

Hotchkiss H-39

19 units obtained.

Somua S-35

6 units obtained.

BMW R-12

18 units were purchased from Germany.

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AWO

(no details)

Horch

(no details)

Praga AV

This vehicle was owned by none other than Czar Boris and is seen at a training exercise in 1941. The Praga AV was used as a headquarters vehicle.

Volkswagen Kubel

Has anyone ever noticed how the Kubel and the 1970's Volkswagen model called "The Thing" were nearly identical? This Kubel is in the German yellow color with a green rectangle with white "OF" (in Cyrillic alphabet this meant National Front) there is a Opel Blitz in the background 24 Opel Blitz  trucks were supplied to the Bulgarians.

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Opel Blitz

24 Opel Blitz  trucks were supplied to the Bulgarians.

RSO

(no details)

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Gepanzerte Zugkraftwagen 8t (Sd Kfz 7)

30 units were supplied to Bulgaria. The half track was designed to haul the 88mm Anti-Aircraft gun which was also used at times as an Anti-Tank weapon. The Bulgarians obtained more of these units from the the 7th SS "Prinz Eugen" division after it switched to the Soviet side.

(no photo/s)
Various Odd Vehicles

Exact quantities of each type is unknown. Verification would be great (email me). I understand that in the late battles around Austria and Hungary, Bulgarian soldiers aquired the German Hetzer, The Hungarian Turan I, Italian Semovente Da 47/32, and some German 105mm StuG armor.

(no photo)
German PzKpfw V Panther A, D, G

Exact quantities of each mark is unknown. Bulgarian crews started training in these tanks but the war ended before they were deployed April of 1945.

(no photo)
Soviet T34-85

I have a report that Bulgaria peaked at 599 of these tanks and had 200 in service in 1988. A unspecified amount was available for service in 1996.

(no photo)
Soviet SU-100

I have a report there were at least 100 of these in Bulgaria in 1981.

Steyr 640

Seen here in Macedonia.

(no photo)
German Jagdpanzer IV

15 units were obtained by the Bulgarians in 1946.

From The Front With Love

A postcard sent by Sergeant Dragomir St. Stoikov to his sweetheart.

Bulgarian Soldiers On Leave in Greece

Thorleif Olsson
Author of
Baltic AFV's & Armored Trains 1918 - 1940
Red Steel! - Soviet tanks 1920 - 1945

Steve Guy
Author Of
Thunder and Steel

Tim Keennon

David Barrett

Major Jim Collins USAF

Jakub Marszalkiewicz

Dragomir St. Stoikov
Author of
Kapitan Panzer Page

Daniella Carlsson

Ralph Ricco

Marko Zalad

Last Update: Wednesday, March 12, 2003