General Ivan Kolev Defeats Imperial Russian Cavalry at Dobrich
General Ivan Kolev led the Bulgarian Cavalry Division into Dobrich, meeting an opposing force of Russian cavalry and Romanian troops, after Romania’s declaration of war against Austria-Hungary on September 1 prompted Bulgaria to join the Central Powers and enter the conflict against its northern neighbor.
General Kolev ordered his troops to hold a concentrated formation, neutralizing the maneuver and forcing the Russian units to withdraw before the Bulgarian cavalry entered Dobrich that evening.
Field Marshal August von Mackensen Inspects the Bulgarian Cavalry Division
Field Marshal August von Mackensen visited the Bulgarian camp in Southern Dobruja following the Kubadin position engagements in September 1916. The German commander leading the unified army praised General Kolev’s tactics after observing the cavalry’s performance against infantry positions.
As an old cavalryman myself, I followed the actions of the Bulgarian Cavalry Division with particular interest and was always in raptures over its bold and purely cavalry actions,
von Mackensen stated during his visit, according to 24chasa.bg. I can assure you of one thing, that until now the belief had formed that a cavalry attack against infantry is impossible. You have already refuted it with several brilliant examples.
The German commander presented General Kolev with the Iron Cross, Second Class, on behalf of the German Emperor, noting that many senior cavalry commanders among his peers doubted the feasibility of mounted attacks against entrenched infantry.
Heart Ailment Claims the Commander Following the Dobruja Campaign
General Kolev began experiencing symptoms of a severe heart ailment in December 1916 during the advance to Măcin, the final defensive line in Dobruja. He continued commanding operations until January 2, 1917, before taking a one-month leave.
By May 1917, military doctors recommended strict bed rest and immediate medical treatment in Austria. General Kolev refused early departure, stating to his staff that he needed to remain until he could disband his soldiers and send them home safely. He traveled to Vienna with his wife, Sofia, in June 1917.
He died on July 29, 1917, at a Vienna hospital, one day after receiving a promotion to lieutenant general. His remains were returned to Sofia, where an official funeral service took place at the St. Nedelya Church on August 4, 1917, ahead of a public procession to the Central Cemetery.