November 26, 1878 — Bulgaria’s First Military School Opens in Sofia
On November 26, 1878, Bulgaria’s first Military School opened in Sofia. The new institution was created at a crucial moment, when the restored Bulgarian state was still forming its army, administration, and public institutions after Liberation. A national officer corps was essential for a country that needed to defend its autonomy, organize its armed forces, and reduce dependence on foreign military personnel. The school trained young Bulgarians for professional military service and became one of the foundations of the modern Bulgarian army. Its opening also showed that education and defence were closely linked in the early state-building period. The institution later developed through reorganizations and traditions that connect it with Bulgaria’s present-day military education, including the National Military University named after Vasil Levski.
November 26, 1990 — Podkrepa Calls a Nationwide General Strike
On November 26, 1990, the Podkrepa Confederation of Labour called a nationwide general strike demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Andrei Lukanov. The action came during one of the most difficult moments of Bulgaria’s post-communist transition. The country faced shortages, inflation, political conflict, and deep frustration over the slow pace of reforms. Podkrepa’s strike turned labour protest into a direct political challenge to the government, showing how quickly independent unions had become part of public life after decades of state-controlled organizations. The pressure helped intensify the crisis around Lukanov’s cabinet; only days later, on November 30, the Seventh Grand National Assembly accepted his resignation. The strike remains a vivid example of how social hardship and democratic mobilization intersected in the early 1990s.
Continue with November 25 or November 27. For more stories and places, explore Bulgaria From Above and the guides in our Bulgaria category on Bronicable.
