Colonel Vladimir Serafimov

A famous bulgarian officer who saved several villages in the Rhodope mountains from ottoman reprisals. This happened during the First Balkan War. The Rhodopes were still largely in ottoman territory, but when the war broke out and bulgarian troops entered the area they were able to repel the turks and liberate all of the central Rhodopes. However, a large ottoman force led by Yaver pasha was inbound and so colonel Serafimov was ordered to retreat. Knowing well that the villagers would be put to slaughter and reprisals if they were left to the turks, the colonel decided to disobay orders and stay and fight. With only his 21st Srednogorsky regiment he managed to beat Yaver pasha (whose forces had a numerical superiority of 4:1) and prevent any reprisals against the native bulgarian population.