Photo of RIA Major General H.N. Koichev, with a handwritten signature

Portrait cabinet. An extremely rare photo of a Bulgarian general in Russian service, with his own autograph. One of those officers who could not accept the revolution, but also could not fight against his own soldiers. He committed suicide on October 3, 1917, leaving a note: "I lost hope for a bright future for Russia." Excellent preservation. Guarantee of authenticity.

Hristo Neykovich Koichev (1863-1917) was a Bulgarian and Russian military man, a Russian major general, and a hero of the First World War. He was born on January 20, 1863 in Dronov (Tarnovo district, Bulgaria). He joined the Bulgarian military service on June 6, 1881. He received his education at the Sofia Military College, from which he was released on August 30, 1885 as a second lieutenant in the 1st Artillery Regiment. From September 22, 1886, he served in the 8th Infantry Primorsky Regiment of the Bulgarian army. On February 14, 1887, Koichev resigned from the reserve.

On November 1, 1887, Koichev applied for enlistment in the Russian Imperial Army and was seconded to the 15th Artillery Brigade, and by the Highest Order of January 24, 1892, he was enlisted in this brigade as a second lieutenant (with seniority from August 30, 1885); on August 30, 1889, he was promoted to lieutenant.

On April 1, 1892, Koichev passed the entrance exams to the senior class of the Nikolaev Academy of the General Staff and in 1894 graduated from the academy in the 1st category and was appointed to be at the headquarters of the Odessa Military District; for achievements in science on May 18, he was promoted to staff captain. On January 8, 1896, he was enlisted in the General Staff and appointed head of the combatant department of the staff of the Zegrzh fortress. On March 24, 1896, he was promoted to captain. From October 20, 1897 to October 20, 1898, he served as a company commander in the Life Guards St. Petersburg Regiment, and from May 6, 1898, he was listed as a senior adjutant of the headquarters of the 6th Army Corps. On April 9, 1900, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and appointed staff officer for special assignments to the commander of the Semirechensk region, after which he was senior adjutant of the headquarters of the Turkestan Military District on August 21 of the same year.

On November 23, 1901, Koichev was appointed chief of Staff of the 7th District of the Separate Border Guard Corps, and from April 28 to August 29, 1903, he commanded the 1st Turkestan Rifle Battalion, after which he returned to his former position. On August 28, 1904, he received the rank of colonel. On May 8, 1908, Koichev was given command of the 75th Infantry Sevastopol Regiment. On September 27, 1913, he was promoted to Major General with the appointment of commander of the 2nd Brigade of the 48th Infantry Division.

During the First World War, Koichev, at the head of the brigade, fought in Poland and, by the Highest Order of April 24, 1915, was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree "For repelling repeated attacks by an excellent enemy force from September 28 to October 1, 1914, on September 30 he went on a partial offensive and drove it back; On October 12, he launched a decisive offensive, which contributed to the success of the entire detachment." On April 19, 1915, Koichev was appointed commander of the 2nd Brigade of the 9th Infantry Division, and on July 20, 1915, he was dismissed from office with appointment to the reserve of ranks at the headquarters of the Minsk Military District. On November 10, 1915, he was awarded the St. George's Arms. From August 9, 1916, he held the position of Chief of Staff of the 8th Siberian Rifle Division, and from February 7, 1917, he commanded the 17th Siberian Rifle Division.

He was buried in Odessa at the 2nd Christian Cemetery.