The commander from Fereit had made a lasting impression on both the Crown Prince and Chief of Staff Prieshan. His commendable performance had now earned him the prestigious role of leading the military observation mission. This new assignment was met with envy by his fellow division heads. He believed that a successful observation mission would greatly facilitate his future endeavors, especially if it met the expectations of his superiors.
After spending a day in Sofia, the Romanian military observation group proceeded to join the Bulgarian army. Most members of the group were assigned to the Bulgarian First Army, which was the primary force in Bulgaria's offensive against Western Thrace. The First Army was commanded by Lieutenant General Vasil Kutinchev, a tactically astute general who had previously served in the Serbian War. During that conflict, as a major general, he had impressively managed to overcome 25,000 Serbian troops in the Budakos area with only 17,000 of his own men. His strategic acumen had nearly led to the encirclement of a 56,000-strong Serbian force by converging with the main 67,000 troops led by King Ferdinand I. His achievements in that war had earned him a promotion to lieutenant general.
Under the reign of King Ferdinand I, Kutinchev was now entrusted with the main Bulgarian force, a clear indication of the king's confidence in his military capabilities. The First Army boasted some of Bulgaria's most elite units, including the 1st Infantry Division led by Major General Tosheve, the 3rd Infantry Division under Major General Sarafov, and the 10th Infantry Division commanded by Major General Bratislilov.
Particularly notable was the 3rd Division, consisting of three brigades and six regiments, totaling 31,000 troops—significantly larger than the average wartime division in Bulgaria. The First Army itself was a formidable force of 95,000 soldiers, with its firepower bolstered by Romanian-supplied machine guns and artillery. It possessed 72,000 rifles, 186 machine guns, and 287 artillery pieces, including a range of small to medium-caliber guns, making it the best-equipped unit in the Bulgarian military.
Bulgaria's strategic focus was on operations in Thrace and Macedonia. It deployed its main forces in Thrace, organizing them into three armies. The First Army, led by General Vasil Kutinchev, comprised three infantry divisions positioned south of Yambol by the Densa River. The Second Army, under General Nikolai Ivanov and consisting of two infantry divisions and a brigade, was positioned to the west of the First Army with the objective of capturing the formidable fortress of Adrianople (Edirne). The Third Army, commanded by General Radiko Dimitriyev and comprising three infantry divisions along with cavalry units, was stationed to the east and behind the First Army, tasked with crossing the Strania Mountain and capturing the Kirkkills fortress.
The nominal supreme commander of the Bulgarian forces was Tsar Ferdinand I, although actual control and leadership were largely exercised by his deputy, Lieutenant General Mikhail Savov.
This military structure, typical of Balkan nations at the time, differentiated between wartime and peacetime establishments. In peacetime, a division might number just over 10,000 men, but this could double during wartime. This approach helped conserve military expenditures by focusing on training specialized arms while maintaining a smaller active force. However, this structure had its drawbacks, particularly in executing complex tactics and sustaining high casualties, which often led to large-scale engagements resulting in significant demoralization and defeat.
Three days into the war, the various Bulgarian armies crossed the border and commenced their offensive against the Ottoman forces. In the midst of this, in the seventh company of the third battalion of the second regiment of the First Division, Company Commander Sakdov urged his men to hasten their march. The soldiers, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, kept pace with their comrades as they moved towards their objective.
Checking his pocket watch, Commander Sakdov remarked to his deputy, Lieutenant Bodnov, "It seems we are making good time. We should reach the small village of Polonika before six o'clock this evening."
Lieutenant Bodnov responded, "It should be possible, sir. I've heard that our advance units recently engaged Ottoman forces in a town called Karlsman. The Ottomans were poorly trained and quickly defeated."
Curious, Commander Sakdov inquired, "Where did you hear this news?"
"The messenger named Spurf who passed by earlier told me. He even took a cigarette from me as a reward," replied Lieutenant Bodnov.
Pleased by the news, Commander Sakdov smiled and said, "It seems we might need to quicken our pace, or there won't be any Ottomans left for us to fight."
With renewed vigor, Commander Sakdov and his men, followed closely by Lieutenant Bodnov, continued their advance. Meanwhile, at the First Army headquarters, Lieutenant General Vasil Kutinchev was reviewing the progress of his forces. He was informed that the First Division had crossed into a small town named Carlosman, where they had successfully engaged 3,000 Ottoman troops.
Satisfied with the advancements, General Kutinchev consulted a military map and pondered the next strategic moves, while Major General Toshevey, stationed at the division headquarters of the First Division, deliberated whether to launch a probing attack or report back to General Kutinchev about the Ottoman forces regrouping in the nearby town of Lule Burgas.
As the war progressed, these strategic decisions and movements would determine the fate of the Bulgarian offensive and the outcome of their campaign against the Ottoman Empire.
Major General Tosheve, the commander of the First Division, received a critical telegram from Lieutenant General Sirkutinchev, prompting immediate preparations for an assault scheduled for the following day. The target was Lule Burgas, a strategic location currently held by 27,000 Ottoman troops, with an additional 21,000 in reserve ready to provide support. This area was a segment of a larger defensive line stretching to Budahirsar, manned by a total of 147,000 Ottoman soldiers. The overall command of this extensive defense was under the chief of the Ottoman forces, Zampasya, with Alsa Pasha, his trusted lieutenant, overseeing the defense of Lule Burgas itself.
Zampasya's previous strategies in Macedonia had faltered, compounded by the turbulent political climate within the Ottoman European territories. A retreat would likely lead to widespread disobedience among the local populations and expose the weakening grip of the Ottoman Empire to the European powers. Despite these challenges, Zampasya had no choice but to depend on his forces to perform admirably and reverse their fortunes, even though he had previously overestimated the capabilities of his army and underestimated the resolve of the Balkan nations.
At the break of dawn in the small village of Polonika, the soldiers of the First Division's Second Regiment, Third Battalion, Seventh Company were roused from their sleep. Under the command of Captain Sackdorf, they prepared for the 16-kilometer march to Lule Burgas, eager for the confrontation with the Ottoman forces. Captain Sackdorf and his subordinate, Ensign Bodnov, were particularly enthusiastic about the opportunity to engage the enemy and liberate the oppressed peoples of Western Thrace under Ottoman rule.
After a hearty breakfast, Captain Sackdorf checked the readiness of his troops, receiving a positive report from Ensign Bodnov that all 258 men of the company, minus the cooks, were present and accounted for. Satisfied, Sackdorf ordered the company to form up into two columns and commence the march towards Lule Burgas. As they moved, other units of the First Division also advanced in coordinated columns towards the same objective, their movements resembling streams merging into a river flowing towards the battlefield.
By noon, the First Division had reached the outskirts of Lule Burgas, strategically situated in a gap within the small Gaslow mountain range, a location of critical importance due to its road leading directly to Istanbul. The Seventh Company, along with the rest of the First Division, quickly set up their positions without any interference from the Ottoman forces, who observed quietly, perhaps sizing up their adversaries.
Lunch was followed by the setup of artillery positions, with the fresh soil turned over as the artillery pieces were placed. Captain Sackdorf rallied his troops with a speech, downplaying the enemy's capability and boosting the morale of his men. Meanwhile, Major General Tosheve, alongside his chief of staff Donotov, observed the Ottoman positions through binoculars, discussing the challenging nature of the upcoming tentative assault. Despite the apparent numerical parity and the lack of artillery dominance, Tosheve decided to proceed with a preliminary bombardment to test the enemy's defenses.
At precisely two o'clock, Tosheve's order was executed, and the First Division's artillery unleashed a fierce barrage upon the Ottoman lines. The battlefield was quickly shrouded in smoke, and the sounds of explosions marked the grim toll of the conflict. Despite the intensity, the barrage was short-lived due to limited ammunition and ceased after thirty minutes.
With the artillery quiet, the ground assault commenced. Captain Sackdorf, leading by example, was the first to surge out of the trenches, closely followed by the motivated men of the Seventh Company. As they advanced, the Ottoman artillery responded fiercely, causing significant casualties among the Bulgarian troops. However, the First Division's counter-battery fire soon mitigated the Ottoman artillery's effectiveness, allowing the Bulgarian soldiers to continue their advance.
Approaching the Ottoman trenches, Sackdorf heightened his vigilance. As the enemy troops began firing, he commanded his men to take cover, avoiding the initial volley. Those who couldn't find cover in time were struck down. Under Sackdorf's leadership, the soldiers crawled forward and returned fire, waiting for reinforcements to catch up. Once the follow-up troops arrived, Sackdorf, wielding a pistol and a command knife, led a charge into the Ottoman trenches. His audacity stunned the Ottoman defenders, and he swiftly eliminated several at close range.
Despite their initial success, the Bulgarian troops faced a counterattack from a large contingent of Ottoman reinforcements. The commander of the Second Regiment ordered a retreat to avoid being overwhelmed. As the Bulgarians withdrew, Major General Tosheve, observing from a distance, acknowledged the bravery and effectiveness of his troops but recognized the need for greater strength to overcome the well-entrenched Ottoman defenses.
Back at headquarters, Tosheve discussed the situation with his chief of staff, deciding to inform Lieutenant General Sirkutinchev of the formidable Ottoman positions at Lule Burgas and the unlikely success of a continued assault with their current forces. He also requested that commendations be prepared for the brave officers and soldiers, particularly noting Captain Sackdorf's gallant conduct.
In this probing attack, the First Division had tested the strength of the Ottoman defenses at the cost of significant casualties on both sides. While the Ottomans had managed to repel the assault, the resolve of the Bulgarian troops suggested that the conflict was far from over. The next chapter in this fierce confrontation awaited, as both sides regrouped for the inevitable continuation of hostilities.