Georgi Dimitrov

Bulgarian politician (1882–1949)

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Lived 1882–1949, aged 67

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59 languages
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Era
1882–1949
Aged 67
Known for
Manly Times
1977

Summary

Updated 2026-06-08

He stood in a Nazi courtroom accused of burning down the Reichstag, refused a lawyer, and cross-examined Hermann Göring so fiercely he walked free — then went on to lead the Communist International and shape Bulgaria's postwar turn to Soviet rule.

Biography

About

Born in western Bulgaria in 1882, Dimitrov worked as a printer and trade unionist before entering parliament as a socialist during the First World War, where his opposition to the conflict landed him briefly in prison for sedition. He helped found the Bulgarian Communist Party in 1919, moved to Soviet Russia two years later, and in 1923 led a failed uprising against Aleksandar Tsankov's government that forced him into permanent exile. Living in Germany by 1929 as head of Comintern operations in central Europe, he was arrested after the 1933 Reichstag fire; his eloquent self-defense won acquitt…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Georgi Dimitrov

Georgi Dimitrov

said1941

(On 1941.7.2 Dimitrov handed Molotov a proposal, suggesting a help fund of 2 millions US Dollars be given to Chinese Communist Party.

— Dimitrov Diaries

Georgi Dimitrov

said2 Aug 1935

No, fascism is not a power standing above class, nor government of the petty bourgeoisie or the lumpen-proletariat over finance capital.

— Ch. 1, The Class Character of Fascism.

Georgi Dimitrov

said2 Aug 1935

What is the source of the influence of fascism over the masses? Fascism is able to attract the masses because it demagogically appeals to their most urgent needs and demands.

— Ch. 1.

Georgi Dimitrov

said2 Aug 1935