Published: 18 June 2010Last Updated: 07 April 2012The Armored Brigade was formed 1 Oct 1943 when the Armored Regiment was upgraded to a Brigade and it was organised along the lines of the German 1941 Panzer divisions. The brigade spent 1944 in training until the Bulgarian defection of the Axis camp in Sep when it began fighting the German forces.
For more in-depth information, see the Employment of Armored Fighting Vehicles by Bulgaria article.
Order of battle (July 1944)
HQ
Staff
Motorcycle Platoon
1. Armored Regiment
Armored Maintenace Company
Armored Staff Company
Signals Platoon
Engineer Platoon
1. Armored Battalion
HQ
1. Company
2. Company
3. Company
2. Armored Battalion
HQ
4. Company
5. Company
6. Company
3. Armored Battalion
HQ
7. Company
8. Company
9. Company
Reseve Platoon
10. Training Company
11. Training Company
1. Infantry Regiment (mot)
Staff
Engineer Platoon
Motorcycle Platoon
Signals Platoon
3 x Battalion
3 x Rifle Company
Heavy Company
Reconnaissance Battalion
2 x Motorcycle Company
Armored Car Company
Company (mot)
Engineer Platoon
Mortar Platoon
Anti-tank Platoon
Armored Maintenace Company (mot)
Artillery Regiment (mot)
Staff & Staff Battery
Observation Platoon
Signals Platoon
2 x Battalion (mot)
Signals Platoon
3 x Battery (mot)
Anti-tank Battalion (mot)
2 x Light Anti-tank Company
Heavy Anti-tank Company
Flak Battalion (mot)
Light Flak Battery
Medium Flak Battery
Heavy Flak Battery
Engineer Battalion (mot)
2 x Engineer Company
Bridging Train
Signals Battalion
Telephone Company
Radio Company
Supply Column (mot)
Maintenance Company (mot)
Administration Company (mot)
Field Hospital (mot)
Medical Company (mot)
Ambulance (mot)
Military Police (mot)
Field Post Office (mot)
Panzer IV from the Armored Brigade 1944
(Courtesy of Lost Bulgaria, licensed under Creative Commons)
Sources used
Kaloyan Matev – Armored Vehicles 1935-1945 (Equipment and Armor in the Bulgarian Army)
George F. Nafziger – Bulgarian Order of Battle in World War II
Reference material on this unit
Kaloyan Matev – Armored Vehicles 1935-1945 (Equipment and Armor in the Bulgarian Army)
