On April 20, 1878, May 2, in a new style, the April Uprising broke out in Bulgaria – a cry for freedom that echoed throughout Europe. The riot is extinguished in blood. But it shows that the slave of yesterday has a new spirit. That he is ready for a lot for freedom. In the uprising there is heroism, self-sacrifice, greatness. There are exploits and inconvenient truths. Also – cases causing regret with their endings. Such is the “Tallow Affair” in Vratsa, with participants Mito Tsvetkov and Ivanitsa Danchev.
Its beginning is before the uprising, when the acquisition of weapons was among the most important tasks. It ends after the arrival of Freedom but not with a happy ending…
Since there was no money for weapons, and the preparations for the uprising in the Vrachan revolutionary district were lagging behind, the member of the local committee, Mito Tsvetkov, gave an idea to buy tallow and pastrami from Turkish slaughterhouses on credit, sell them, and use the money to provide weapons. Assistant Apostle Stoyan Zaimov approved. According to some sources, Ivanitsa Danchev, later a Chetnik in the Boteva detachment, was designated to carry out the transaction, and Mito became the guarantor. According to Zahari Stoyanov and Stefanaki Sovov, also a Chetnik of Botev, Tsvetkov himself carried out the affair.
How exactly did the “Tallow Affair” come about?
“Pastrami was bought from Mladen Skachokov and from a Turk – Hadji Arap, according to a version that Mito Tsvetkov took and sold to Romania, and brought the money to the Central Committee for the purchase of weapons,” wrote Savov.
The presumption was probably that in the commotion surrounding the creditors’ uprising, money was not for them, but that after the success some way out would be found. They took the goods to Romania, sold them for BGN 13,000, with which they bought rifles. However, the boatmen hired to take them across the Danube were afraid and did not want to go. That’s why they hid the rifles there, and later Hristo Botev’s Chetniks, including Danchev and Tsvetkov, armed themselves with them.
At Milin Kamak, the two were captured on different days and subsequently tried. The first was sent to exile in Asia Minor, the second to the Vidin prison. Freedom awaits there, which brought him an even more unhappy fate. For her, Mito’s companion –
Stefanaki Savov writes: “After being released from prison, he returned to Vratsa supposedly to enjoy his freedom, but he did not stay for long. Mladen Skachokov showed up, from whom some of the loin and pastrami taken to Romania were taken. He took him to court, convicted him, and because no one took care to collect money and pay off this debt, his house was sold and he was left on the street. This, of course, made him so bitter and had a very bad effect on him, he got sick and died… This is how Mito ended, who gave everything for Bulgaria”.
The unlucky champion died on May 15, 1881. in Vratsa, alone, poor, forgotten by everyone.
Fate is kinder to Ivanitsa Danchev. After the Liberation, he became a judge and worked in Tutrakan, Shumen, Varna. Died on October 1, 1912.
#Tallow #Affair #April #Uprising
How does the contrasting fate of Mito Tsvetkov and Ivanitsa Danchev highlight the complexities and sometimes contradictory nature of historical recognition and remembrance?
## The Cost of Freedom: A Conversation
This interview delves into the fascinating and tragic story of the “Tallow Affair” during the Bulgarian April Uprising, exploring themes of patriotism, sacrifice, and the unexpected consequences of revolutionary actions. Our guests, Dr. Emil Petrov, a historian specializing in the 19th-century Bulgarian struggle for independence, and Ms. Zornitsa Georgiev, a descendant of Ivanitsa Danchev, will shed light on this compelling historical event.
**Section 1: The Context of the April Uprising**
**Host:** Dr. Petrov, for our audience unfamiliar with this period, could you set the scene? What was the political climate in Bulgaria leading up to the April Uprising, and what role did the acquisition of weapons play in the rebellion?
**Dr. Petrov:**
**Host:** Ms. Georgiev, how were stories of the April Uprising passed down through your family? Did your family discuss Ivanitsa Danchev’s involvement in the “Tallow Affair?”
**Ms. Georgiev:**
**Section 2: The “Tallow Affair”: A Desperate Gamble**
**Host:** Dr. Petrov, could you explain the mechanics of the “Tallow Affair”? What motivated Mito Tsvetkov and Ivanitsa Danchev to undertake such a risky venture?
**Dr. Petrov:**
**Host:** Ms. Georgiev, what were the prevailing attitudes towards the “Tallow Affair” within your family? Was it viewed as a necessary act of defiance or a misguided attempt?
**Ms. Georgiev:**
**Section 3: The Aftermath: Triumph and Tragedy**
**Host:** Dr. Petrov, the article mentions diverging fates for Tsvetkov and Danchev after the Uprising. What factors contributed to this difference? Were Mito Tsvetkov’s contributions ultimately recognized and appreciated?
**Dr. Petrov:**
**Host:** Ms. Georgiev, bearing witness to her ancestor’s life and legacy, what lessons do you think we can learn from Mito Tsvetkov’s story?
**Ms. Georgiev:**
**Section 4: Reflecting on the “Tallow Affair” Today**
**Host:** Dr. Petrov, how does the “Tallow Affair” contribute to our understanding of the complexities of revolution and the sacrifices made in the pursuit of freedom?
**Dr. Petrov:**
**Host:** This story is both inspiring and heartbreaking. What do you hope readers take away from the tale of the “Tallow Affair”?
**Ms. Georgiev:**
