Bulgarian soldier and poet Geo Milev who lost his right eye in battle, 1918.

Bulgarian soldier and poet Geo Milev who lost his right eye in battle, 1918.


Georgi Milev Kasabov was born on January 15, 1895 in Radnevo, Bulgaria to parents who were teachers and owners of a book store.
In 1912, Milev studied philosophy at Sofia University, before continuing his education at Leipzig University in Germany, where he took up poetry inspired by German expressionism. His first set of poems were published in a Bulgarian magazine in December 1913.
Upon the outbreak of the First World War in July 1914, Bulgaria stayed neutral, and Milev moved to London to develop his poetry and improve his English. Milev returned to Leipzig on October 18, 1914, but was detained in Hamburg on suspicion of being a British spy. He was released after 11 days due to a lack of evidence.
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In August 1915, Milev returned to Bulgaria, who entered the First World War with the Central Powers on October 14, 1915. Milev's father was soon mobilized, forcing Milev to take over the family's book store, where he continued to publish his own poetry.
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In March 1916 Milev himself, aged 21, was mobilized into the Bulgarian 34th Trojan Regiment. Following training at an officer school, Milev was sent to the frontlines of the Macedonian Front at Lake Doiran, opposing British forces. Due to his extensive language skills, he was used as a translator and counter-intelligence officer, translating intercepted British and French radio messages.
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On April 29, 1917, during the Second Battle of Doiran, Milev's position was subjected to heavy British artillery fire. Milev was severely wounded in the head, losing his right eye.
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In February 1918, Milev went to Berlin to have his eye socket operated on, where he underwent 15 operations and received an artificial glass eye. Milev immersed himself in the cultural and literary life of Berlin, joining a circle of expressionist poets. Milev was in Berlin when the war ended in November 1918, returning to Bulgaria in March 19th.

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