Konstantin Kavarnaliev

Kavarnaliev (left) with another officer. Photo by Dimitar Karastoyanov

As Junker who participated in the Serbo-Bulgarian War who commands the 3rd company of the Fifth Danube Infantry Regiment and participated in military operations in Battle of Slivnitsa, Tsaribrod (November 11 to 12) and Pirot (November 14–15). Manifested in battle near the village of Aldomirovtsi. For honors in the war on December 3, 1885, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and awarded the Military Order "For Courage", IV degree.[1]

Kavarnaliev graduated third in his class in 1888 and was assigned to the 4th Artillery Regiment, where he served until 1892. He graduated from the Military Academy in Belgium (1897) and then specialized in Italy. He served as Chief of Staff of the 2nd Brigade of the Sixth Bdina Infantry Division. On December 15, 1907, Kavanaliev was appointed chief of staff of the Fifth Danube Infantry Regiment. In 1900 he married Elena Popova. He was promoted to the rank of major in May 1900, and to the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1904. In less than a year in 1907 he was commander of the 15th Lom Infantry Regiment in Belogradchik, and then was transferred to Ruse as Chief of Staff of the Fifth Danube Infantry Division, and a little later was promoted to the rank of colonel. During the First Balkan War from December 14, 1912, to January 16, 1913, was commander of 5th Infantry Danube Regiment. During the Second Balkan War he was appointed commander of the 3rd Brigade of the Third Balkan Infantry Division. At that time, six divisions, personally commanded by King Konstantinos I of Greece, attacked Kukush, defended by two Bulgarian regiments. They fought for three days, giving the population the opportunity to withdraw without casualties to Old Bulgaria. Without allowing themselves to be surrounded, the Bulgarian regiments withdrew to the north. Kukush was burned to the ground and the Greek army rushed to Lake Doiran. Colonel Kavarnaliev has only two regiments which were the 32nd and 42nd, which on top of everything are incomplete and have a total of only 3,000 infantry. The Greeks attacked with 42,000 infantry, outnumbering the Bulgarians.

The battle flared up with terrible preparation on June 18, 1913, with reserves and support from the rear not arriving. On June 22, Colonel Kavarnaliev sent his adjutant, Lieutenant Durov, to the rear with the words: "Lieutenant, go on the road to Sofia and if you meet even one Bulgarian soldier, send him to me to throw him into battle!" Durov met many Bulgarian soldiers but they also fought desperately at Zletovo, Shtip, Zanoga, Kresna, Predela, Pehchevo, Berovo, Krivolak, Kalimantsi. And on June 23, Colonel Kavarnaliev threw into battle with the only reserve being his own regiment. He left the command bunker and with a rifle in his hand counterattacked with his soldiers in the front line. The opponent was repulsed, the position held. During the battle, Colonel Kavarnaliev was wounded in the leg. The wound looked light and he didn't leave the battlefield, but it turns out that the bullet pierced an important artery.

The brave general died a few hours later from blood loss on June 23, 1913. He was posthumously promoted to major general.