BGR - vežové postavenie Pz.Kpfw.IV a Pz.Kpfw.V "Panther"

The Bulgarian army was also equipped with German tank equipment during World War II.
In 1943-44 Bulgaria purchased 91 (97) tanks Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf.G and Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. H. From the photos it is clear that there was also a version of Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. J. The machine may have been supplied by Germany, or it is possible that it may have been Bulgarian payload material.

After the war the tanks served until the 1950s. The machines were subsequently used to build permanent fortress palposts on the Bulgarian-Turkish and possibly Bulgarian-Greek border, where individual wrecks are probably still there today. These permanent fortresses are situated in inaccessible terrain, which was practically inaccessible during the socialist regime because it was a military border zone, whose defences included minefields until the mid-1990s. Today, these remains are the target of looting. But at the same time, military fans are keen to save these precious machines and hand them over to the museum.

The machines have been placed in hardened tank trenches or have been concreted over. In the photos below of the modification without the gun, it can be seen that crew entrances have been made in the sides of the hull, probably closed with doors, and makeshift seats for the crew can be seen in the engine compartment.
Some Pz.Kpfw. IV were, or still are, on the polygon in Novi Selo.

The same palposts were also created using PzKpfw.V "Panther" tanks. A total of 20 tanks were acquired by the Bulgarian Army as booty from the Soviet Army just before the end of the war (3/1945 - they were not used in combat) and after the end of the war. An internet source mentions the probable presence of 10-15 such palposts in the Makaz Pass on the Bulgarian-Greek border. The source refers to military documentation mentioning these bunkers. However, access to them is difficult. Mine fields have made movement in the area dangerous. According to more recent information, the use of turrets from Panther tanks is disinformation.

A similar use of decommissioned PzKpfw.IV tanks and their tank turrets was considered in post-war Czechoslovakia. A project and a test prototype of the bunker was created. However, after unsatisfactory results of sniper tests, this project was stopped.

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Translation of original article as requested by H.M.Admin.



In the inventory of Bulgarian Armed Forces (BAF) there was certain number of German built armoured vehicles during WW2. During 1943-44 Bulgaria bought 91 (or 97) Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.G and H tanks. According to photo evidence some (at least one) Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.J vehicle was used by Bulgarian Armed Forces too – but we still do not know it was either bought or war-booty vehicle…
These tanks remained in service with BAF till the end of fifties and then they were used for building of permament strongholds/dig-in positions along Bulgarian-Turkish border and probably along Bulgarian-Greek border too, where small number of their wrecks could be find till nowadays. These strongholds are situated in unapproachable areas of former „no public access“ zone which was kept by socialist regime along the state border. Some areas of this zone were even mine-protected till nineties. The remnants of these rare armoured vehicles wrecks are looted although military history enthusiasts stream to protect them and to recover them as a potential military museum exhibits.
Hulls of tank strongholds (with turrets either with main gun remaining or removed) were put into pre-prepared dig-in positions and covered by concrete layer. Below attached pics of stronghold with main gun removed show new entrance door cut-in the sidewalls of hull. These cut-ins were probably covered by armoured shutters. There are improvised crew seats inside former engine compartment too.
Some Pz.Kpfw.IV were or still are within the boundaries of Novo Selo polygon.
Some surplus Pz.Kpfw.V Panther were used for building the same strongholds as described above. 15 Panthers were obtained by BAF from the Red Army units as a surplus (March 45) and these vehicles never saw combat till the end of war.
The Internet source cites 15 strongholds built on Pz.Kpfw.V Panther located in the area of Makaz pass on Bulgarian-Greek border. According to the source these strongholds were mentioned in military documents and the access to these strongholds was/is dangerous due to minefields laid around them.
Postwar Czechoslovak authorities were planning such use of tank hulls and turrets for building strongholds. These plans were cancelled after building prototype stronghold and unsuccessful results of tests.