History

The Rakovski National Defence College is undoubtedly the most important military-scientific and military-educational institution in Bulgaria, where thousands of highly qualified officer personnel have been trained over the years.

Amidst the military reforms and modernization of the Bulgarian Army at the beginning of the 20th century, the need for officers with higher education became increasingly urgent. Therefore, on December 11, 1911, Major General Nikifor Nikiforov, the Minister of War, submitted a well-argued proposal to Tsar Ferdinand I for the establishment of a military College. In his reasoning, he emphasized that the rapid development of military affairs required „the establishment of a higher military educational institution under the name Military College“.

On December 12, 1911, the proposal was approved by Tsar Ferdinand I. In his resolution, he noted: “I approve with great joy the submission of this draft law to the 15th Ordinary National Assembly and congratulate the army on this fortunate and fateful decision.” On December 15, the War Minister officially announced the decision, and the draft law was submitted for review and approval by Parliament. On March 1, 1912, it was passed by the National Assembly, and on April 20, with Decree No. 26, the Tsar officially enacted the Law on the Military College. The law was published in the State Gazette on May 8, 1912, marking the College’s legal foundation.

However, the outbreak of the Balkan Wars (1912–1913) delayed the opening of the College until January 4, 1915, when the academic year began with a formal ceremony attended by Tsar Ferdinand. Yet again, the students could not complete their studies due to the outbreak of the First World War in autumn 1915, in which Bulgaria participated. All officers were deployed, and academic activities were suspended.

After the war, the Treaty of Neuilly (1919) forced Bulgaria to close all its military schools, leaving only the Military School operational. Despite this, in 1922, the Military College resumed a covert existence under the name Instructor’s Course, operating within the Military School in Sofia. It remained under this name until 1938.

In 1931, alongside the general staff specialization already being studied, a new three-year specialization was introduced. The College was divided into two departments: General Staff and Logistics, each with its respective training programs.

From 1935, the number of officer trainees increased. By 1944, 16 officer classes had graduated—comprising 16 general staff and 11 logistics classes—with a total of 521 officers, including 10 foreign nationals (Croats).

Despite the start of the Second World War, training at the College continued.

The only change, due to the pressing need for command officers, was the reduction of the study period to two years.

Until 1944, the faculty did not participate directly in the war, but many of its alumni—by then generals—led the Bulgarian Army. In the final stage of the war (1944–1945), they successfully planned and led military operations against Wehrmacht forces.

After the war, regular academic activity resumed in 1945.

On March 5, 1946, by Regency Decree No. 6, the College was named after Georgi Stoykov Rakovski, the patriarch of Bulgaria’s national liberation movement. In 1952, the College received its first battle flag.

In the following years, the College underwent structural and personnel changes as it transitioned to peacetime operations and came under the influence of the Communist Party. Key structural reforms were implemented, including the creation of full-time and part-time faculties, a Higher Academic Course for senior officers, and new departments. By 1953, the College staff reached 1,000. Education focused primarily on preparing officers for wartime command, with peacetime duties taking a back seat.

In 1954, the first doctoral candidates were enrolled, and the first scientific titles and professorships were awarded. Research efforts resulted in the publication of scientific works, including the first two volumes of the “College’s Proceedings”.

In 1958, after merging with the Military Technical College and the Military Political College, the institution became the only center for training command, technical, and political cadres for the Bulgarian Army. The College expanded to 5 faculties and 25 departments, gradually removing divisions by branch of the armed forces.

In 1967, specialized academic councils in military, philosophical, and economic sciences were established. The College began training officers from the Soviet Union, Cuba, Yemen, and Vietnam.

During the 1980s, the curricula were refined to remove content already covered in military schools. Emphasis shifted toward operational-tactical and technical-specialized training. By 1986, the College employed 7 professors, 68 associate professors, 5 doctors of sciences, and 107 PhDs. The Cold War environment heavily influenced the College’s structure and programs. Contacts were mostly limited to Warsaw Pact countries, and the educational process was highly ideological. Despite some weaknesses, the College fulfilled its role, producing a large number of skilled military professionals.

The democratic changes after 1989 significantly affected military education. The College and the military were depoliticized. Communist political structures were dismantled, and the Military Political Faculty and ideological departments were closed. Curricula were overhauled, shifting focus to defensive military operations. The College established its first contacts with NATO institutions and neighboring countries and integrated military with civilian education. Prominent scholars from other academic institutions were invited as lecturers. Over a decade, student numbers declined fivefold and faculty numbers threefold. After 2000, international cooperation expanded significantly. The College now maintains official relations with over 20 partner institutions worldwide. Through its participation in the Consortium of Military Academies and Defence and Security Committees, its academic staff engage in various international projects, enhancing the College’s reputation and supporting Euro-Atlantic integration.

Modern Structure and Role

As a result of the post-1989 reforms, today the Rakovski National Defence College comprises four main units:

• Faculty of National Security and Defence
• Command and Staff Faculty
• Department of Language Training
• Institute for Advanced Defence Studies

The College offers:

• One bachelor’s program in the accredited professional field of National Security
• 15 master’s programs in National Security, Military Science, and Psychology
• 10 accredited PhD programs
• Each year, around 1,000 officers and civilian employees complete postgraduate qualification courses.

Today, the Rakovski National Defence College is a national institution for higher education, professional qualification, and scientific research in national security and defence. It is the oldest higher military school in Bulgaria and the third-oldest higher education institution in the country.