Nikola Dimitrov Nedeva (July 7, 1886 – April 27, 1970) was a Bulgarian Major general, politician and military historian. He was the Minister of Interior affairs and Public Health in the third and fourth cabinets of Georgi Kyoseivanov (November 1938 to February 1940). His first cousins were Lieutenant General Nikola Mihov and Major General Ivan Ivanov – descendants of the great Mollov's family. Nedev was a friend of Petar Danov (also known by the name Beinsa Douno, and often called Master by his followers) who was a Bulgarian philosopher and spiritual teacher of the Universal White Brotherhood. Nedev was a follower of the Danov's teachings. Biography Early years Nikola Nedev was born on 7 July 1886 (20 July 1886 – new style) in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria into a family of intellectuals. After graduating from high school, he continued his education at the Higher Military School. Career On 15 August 1907 Cadet Nedev graduated with excellence from the artillery class of the Higher Military School. As Second Lieutenant he began his career as platoon commander of the 5th artillery regiment in Shoumen, and on 1 January 1908, Second Lieutenant Nedev was promoted to platoon commander of the Sofia Fortress Battalion. During his career as an officer, Nikola Nedev was promoted to the following ranks: Lieutenant, 4 September 1910, Captain 1 November 1913, Major 1 January 1918, Lieutenant Colonel 30 January 1923, Colonel 26 March 1928, and Major General 6 June 1935. In 1936 he retired from the army. In 1911 Nedev was awarded an excellent mark in the entrance exam at the Higher Military Academy Еcole de guerre in Brussels, Belgium. During that time he served in the artillery arsenal and the coastguard. The same year, he married Tzvetanka Grozdanova (1892–1984). They had two children—daughter Rousska Nedev Koutzouglou (1915–2010), and son Dimitar Nedev (1916–1980). Participation in the Balkan War The war began after the controversy between the allied Balkan countries Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Greece and the Ottoman Empire could not be resolved by political and diplomatic means. From 17 September 1912, the Bulgarian army mobilized about 600,000 people and 700 guns. The mobilized army of Serbia, Montenegro and Greece totaled 295,000 people and 648 guns. Many artists, sculptors, writers and actors joined the Bulgarian army as volunteers. Part of it was merged with 14,760 troops from Macedonia and Eastern Thrace. The Balkan war began on 5 October 1912. Captain Nedev was