NationMaster - Encyclopedia: History of Independent Bulgaria

The Treaty of San Stefano of March 3, 1878 provided for an independent Bulgarian state, which spanned over the geographical regions of Moesia, Thrace and Macedonia. Based on that date Bulgarians celebrate Bulgaria's national day each year. Fearing the establishment of a large Russian client state on the Balkans, the other Great Powers, however, were not willing to agree with the treaty. Bulgarian coat of arms This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... The history of Bulgaria as a separate country began in the 7th century with the arrival of the Bulgars and the foundation of the First Bulgarian Empire together with the local seven Slavic tribes, a union recognized by Byzantium in 681. ... Old Great Bulgaria or Great Bulgaria (Î— Ï€Î±Î»Î±Î¹Î¬ Î¼ÎµÎ³Î¬Î»Î· Î’Î¿Ï…Î»Î³Î±ÏÎ¯Î± in Byzantine chronicles; alternative name: Onoguria/Onoghuria) was a Bulgar state, founded by Kubrat, which briefly existed in the 7th century north of the Caucasus mountains in the steppe between the rivers Dnieper and Lower Volga[1]. // Main article: Kubrat Kubrat (also Kurt or... The First Bulgarian Empire was founded in 681 AD in the lands near the Danube delta and disintegrated in 1018 AD by annexion to the Byzantine Empire. ... The Second Bulgarian Empire was a medieval Bulgarian state which existed between 1185 and 1396 (or 1422). ... After falling almost entirely under Ottoman rule in the end of the 14th century, the Bulgarian state ceased to exist as an independent entity and remained part of the Ottoman Empire for nearly five centuries until 1878. ... Bulgarian nationalism emerged in the early 19th century under the influence of western ideas such as liberalism and nationalism, which trickled into the country after the French revolution, mostly via Greece. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Borders of Bulgaria according to the Treaty of San Stefano of March 3rd, 1878 The Treaty of San Stefano was a treaty between Russia and the Ottoman Empire at the conclusion of the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78. ... March 3 is the 62nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (63rd in leap years). ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Moesia is an ancient province situated in the areas of modern Serbia and Bulgaria. ... Thraciae veteris typvs. ... The National Day is a designated date on which celebrations mark the nationhood of a country. ... In the context of international relations and diplomacy, power (sometimes clarified as international power, national power, or state power) is the ability of one state to influence or control other states. ...

1878–1912

As a result, the Treaty of Berlin (1878), under the supervision of Otto von Bismarck of Germany and Benjamin Disraeli of Britain, revised the earlier treaty, and scaled back the proposed Bulgarian state. An autonomous Principality of Bulgaria was created, between the Danube and the Stara Planina range, with its seat at the old Bulgarian capital of Veliko Turnovo, and including Sofia. This state was to be under nominal Ottoman sovereignty but was to be ruled by a prince elected by a congress of Bulgarian notables and approved by the Powers. They insisted that the Prince could not be a Russian, but in a compromise Prince Alexander of Battenberg, a nephew of Tsar Alexander II, was chosen. An autonomous Ottoman province under the name of Eastern Rumelia was created south of the Stara Planina range, whereas Macedonia was returned under the sovereignty of the Sultan. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (786x613, 229 KB) A map of liberated Bulgaria (1878) - borders after the Treaty of San Stefano (3 March 1878) and the Congress of Berlin (June 1878). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (786x613, 229 KB) A map of liberated Bulgaria (1878) - borders after the Treaty of San Stefano (3 March 1878) and the Congress of Berlin (June 1878). ... The separate Bulgaria after The Treatry of Berlin - Lithography Nikolay Pavlovich The Treaty of Berlin was the final Act of the Congress of Berlin (June 13-July 13, 1878), by which the United Kingdom, Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the Ottoman government under Sultan Hamid revised the Treaty... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... â€œBismarckâ€ redirects here. ... Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (December 21, 1804 - April 24, British Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and author. ... Stara Planina, Rhodope, Rila and Pirin Mountains The Stara Planina (Old Mountain) or Balkan mountain range is an extension of the Carpathian mountain range, separated from it by the Danube River. ... Veliko Turnovo(Cyrillic: Велико Търново, Great Turnovo) is a city of approximately 65,000 people in North-central Bulgaria, 240km north-east of Sofia. ... Alexander Joseph of Battenburg (April 5, 1857 _ November 17, 1893), the first prince of modern Bulgaria, reigned from April 29, 1879 to September 7, 1886). ... Alexander (Aleksandr) II Nikolaevich (Russian: ÐÐ»ÐµÐºÑÐ°Ð½Ð´Ñ€ II ÐÐ¸ÐºÐ¾Ð»Ð°ÐµÐ²Ð¸Ñ‡) (born 17 April 1818 in Moscow; died 13 March 1881 in St. ... Proposed flag of Eastern Rumelia. ... Stara Planina, Rhodope, Rila and Pirin Mountains The Stara Planina (Old Mountain) or Balkan mountain range is an extension of the Carpathian mountain range, separated from it by the Danube River. ...

Unification with Eastern Rumelia and war with Serbia

The Bulgarians adopted an advanced democratic constitution, and power soon passed to the Liberal Party led by Stefan Stambolov. Prince Alexander had conservative leanings, and at first opposed Stambolov's policies, but by 1885 he had become sufficiently sympathetic to his new country to change his mind, and supported the Liberals. He also supported the Unification of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia, which was brought about by a coup in Plovdiv in September 1885. The Powers did not intervene because of the power struggles between them. Shortly after, Serbia declared war on Bulgaria in the hope of grabbing territory while the Bulgarians were distracted. The Bulgarians defeated them at Slivnitsa and pushed the Serbian army back into Serbia. The unification was accepted by the Powers in the form of personal union. Front cover of the Tarnovo Constitution First page (in Russian and Bulgarian) The Tarnovo Constitution (Ð¢ÑŠÑ€Ð½Ð¾Ð²ÑÐºÐ° ÐºÐ¾Ð½ÑÑ‚Ð¸Ñ‚ÑƒÑ†Ð¸Ñ) was the first constitution of Bulgaria. ... A statue of Stefan N. Stambolov in his birthplace Veliko Turnovo Stefan Nikolov Stambolov (Bulgarian: Ð¡Ñ‚ÐµÑ„Ð°Ð½ ÐÐ¸ÐºÐ¾Ð»Ð¾Ð² Ð¡Ñ‚Ð°Ð¼Ð±Ð¾Ð»Ð¾Ð²) (January 31, 1854 - July 6, 1895) was a Bulgarian revolutionary and statesman. ... 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... A map of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia before the Unification. ... 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Serbo-Bulgarian War (Bulgarian: Ð¡Ñ€ÑŠÐ±ÑÐºÐ¾-Ð±ÑŠÐ»Ð³Ð°Ñ€ÑÐºÐ° Ð²Ð¾Ð¹Ð½Ð°, Srabsko-balgarska voyna; Serbian: Ð¡Ñ€Ð¿ÑÐºÐ¾-Ð±ÑƒÐ³Ð°Ñ€ÑÐºÐ¸ Ñ€Ð°Ñ‚, Srpsko-bugarski rat) was a war between Serbia and Bulgaria that erupted on November 14, 1885 and lasted until November 28 the same year. ... Called by historians the battle of the captains vs the generals, referring to the young Bulgarian army, whose highest rank went up to a captain, the battle of Slivnitza was a decisive factor in the victory of the Bulgarian army over the Serbians in 1885. ...

Ferdinand

These events made Alexander very popular in Bulgaria, but Russia was increasingly dissatisfied at his liberal tendencies. In August 1886 they fomented a coup, in the course of which Alexander was forced to abdicate and was exiled to Russia. Stambolov, however, acted quickly and the participants in the coup were forced to flee the country. Stambolov tried to reinstate Alexander, but strong Russian opposition forced the prince to abdicate again. In July 1887 the Bulgarians elected Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha as their new Prince. Ferdinand was the "Austrian candidate" and the Russians refused to recognise him. Ferdinand initially worked with Stambolov, but by 1894 their relationship worsened. Stambolov resigned and was assassinated in July 1895. Ferdinand then decided to restore relations with Russia, which meant returning to a conservative policy. This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Year 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... Ferdinand Maximilan Charles Leopold Marie, Ferdinand of Bulgaria (February 26, 1861 - September 10, 1948) was monarch of Bulgaria as well as an author, botanist and philatelist. ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

There was a substantial Bulgarian population still living under Ottoman rule, particularly in Macedonia. To complicate matters, Serbia and Greece too made claims over parts of Macedonia, while Serbia, as a Slavic nation, also considered Macedonian Slavs as belonging to Serbian nation. Thus began a five-sided struggle for control of these areas which lasted until World War I. In 1903 there was a Bulgarian insurrection in Ottoman Macedonia and war seemed likely. In 1908 Ferdinand used the struggles between the Great Powers to declare Bulgaria a fully independent kingdom, with himself as Tsar, which he did on 5 October (though celebrated on 22 September, as Bulgaria remained officially on the Julian Calendar until 1916) in the St Forty Martyrs Church in Veliko Tarnovo. This article is becoming very long. ... 1900 (MCMIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Friday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... October 5 is the 278th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (279th in leap years). ... September 22 is the 265th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (266th in leap years). ... The Julian calendar was introduced in 46 BC by Julius Caesar and came into force in 45 BC (709 ab urbe condita). ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... The St Forty Martyrs Church (Ñ†ÑŠÑ€ÐºÐ²Ð° Ð¡Ð². Ð§ÐµÑ‚Ð¸Ñ€Ð¸Ð´ÐµÑÐµÑ‚ Ð¼ÑŠÑ‡ÐµÐ½Ð¸Ñ†Ð¸, tsarkva Sv. ...

Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising

The main external political problem confronting Bulgaria throughout the period up to World War I was the fate of Macedonia and Eastern Thrace. At the end of 19th century the Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization was founded and began the preparation of an armed uprising in the regions still occupied by the Turks. Relying in part on nation-wide support on the part of the Principality of Bulgaria, IMARO got down to organizing a network of committees in Macedonia and Thrace. In August 1903 a mass armed uprising, known in history as the Ilinden-Preobrajenie, broke out in Macedonia and Thrace. Its aim was to liberate those regions, or at least to draw the attention of the Great Powers and make them advocate for the improvement of the living conditions for the population through legal and economic reforms. After three months of fierce battles the Turkish army crushed the uprising using much cruelty against the civilian population. The Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (in Macedonian: VnatreÅ¡na Makedonska Revolucionerna Organizacija, Ð’Ð½Ð°Ñ‚Ñ€ÐµÑˆÐ½Ð° ÐœÐ°ÐºÐµÐ´Ð¾Ð½ÑÐºÐ° Ð ÐµÐ²Ð¾Ð»ÑƒÑ†Ð¸Ð¾Ð½ÐµÑ€Ð½Ð° ÐžÑ€Ð³Ð°Ð½Ð¸Ð·Ð°Ñ†Ð¸Ñ˜Ð°, in Bulgarian: Vatreshna Makedonska Revolyucionna Organizaciya, Ð’ÑŠÑ‚Ñ€ÐµÑˆÐ½Ð° ÐœÐ°ÐºÐµÐ´Ð¾Ð½ÑÐºÐ° Ð ÐµÐ²Ð¾Ð»ÑŽÑ†Ð¸Ð¾Ð½Ð½Ð° ÐžÑ€Ð³Ð°Ð½Ð¸Ð·Ð°Ñ†Ð¸Ñ, VMRO), commonly known in English as IMRO, was the name of a revolutionary political organization in the Macedonia region of the Ottoman Empire, and later in Bulgaria and the Macedonian regions of...

The Balkan Wars

In 1911 the Nationalist Prime Minister, Ivan Geshov, set about forming an alliance with Greece and Serbia, and the three allies agreed to put aside their rivalries to plan a joint attack on the Ottomans. Combatants Ottoman Empire Balkan League Bulgaria Commanders Nizam Pasha, Zekki Pasha, Esat Pasha, Abdullah Pasha, Ali Rizah Pasha Bulgaria: Vladimir Vazov, Vasil Kutinchev, Nikola Ivanov, Radko Dimitriev Serbia: Radomir Putnik, Petar BojoviÄ‡, Stepa StepanoviÄ‡ Greece:Crown Prince Constantine, Panagiotis Danglis, Pavlos Kountouriotis Nikola Ivanov, Vasil Kutinchev, Radko Dimitriev The outcome... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ...

In February 1912 a secret treaty was signed between Bulgaria and Serbia, and in May 1912 a similar treaty was signed with Greece. Montenegro was also brought into the pact. The treaties provided for the partition of Macedonia and Thrace between the allies, although the lines of partition were left dangerously vague. After the Ottomans refused to implement reforms in the disputed areas, the First Balkan War broke out in October 1912. (See Balkan Wars for details.) 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Anthem Oj, svijetla majska zoro Oh, the bright dawn of May Montenegro() on the European continent() â€” [] Capital (and largest city) Podgorica Official languages Serbian (Ijekavian dialect)1 Government Republic - President Filip VujanoviÄ‡ - Prime Minister Å½eljko Å turanoviÄ‡ Independence due to the dissolution of Serbia and Montenegro - Declared June 3, 2006 - Recognised... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Combatants Ottoman Empire Balkan League Bulgaria Commanders Nizam Pasha, Zekki Pasha, Esat Pasha, Abdullah Pasha, Ali Rizah Pasha Bulgaria: Vladimir Vazov, Vasil Kutinchev, Nikola Ivanov, Radko Dimitriev Serbia: Radomir Putnik, Petar BojoviÄ‡, Stepa StepanoviÄ‡ Greece:Crown Prince Constantine, Panagiotis Danglis, Pavlos Kountouriotis Nikola Ivanov, Vasil Kutinchev, Radko Dimitriev The outcome...

The allies had an astonishing success. The Bulgarian army inflicted several defeats on the Ottoman forces and advanced threateningly against Istanbul, while the Serbs and the Greeks took control of Macedonia. The Ottomans sued for peace in December. Negotiations broke down, and fighting resumed in February 1913. The Ottomans lost Adrianople to a combined Bulgarian-Serbian task force. A second armistice followed in March, with the Ottomans losing all their European possessions west of the Midia-Enos line, not far from Istanbul. Bulgaria gained possession of most of Thrace, including Adrianople and the Aegean port of Dedeagach (today Alexandroupoli). Bulgaria also gained a slice of Macedonia, north and east of Thessaloniki (which went to Greece), but only some small areas along her western borders. This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Look up Aegean Sea in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Alexandroupoli (also Alexandroupolis, Greek: Î‘Î»ÎµÎ¾Î±Î½Î´ÏÎ¿ÏÏ€Î¿Î»Î· - AlexandroÃºpoli, Turkish: DedeaÄŸaÃ§) is a city of Greece and the capital of the Evros Prefecture in Thrace. ... Coordinates 40Â°51â€² N 25Â°52â€² E Country Greece Periphery East Macedonia and Thrace Prefecture Evros Population 52,720 source (2001) Area 642. ... Thessaloniki, (Greek: Î˜ÎµÏƒÏƒÎ±Î»Î¿Î½Î¯ÎºÎ·), is Greeces second-largest city and the capital of the Greek region of Macedonia and the periphery of Central Macedonia. ...

Bulgaria sustained the heaviest casualties of any of the allies, and on this basis felt entitled to the largest share of the spoils. The Serbs in particular did not see things this way, and refused to vacate any of the territory they had seized in northern Macedonia (that is, the territory roughly corresponding to the modern Republic of Macedonia), stating that the Bulgarian army had failed to accomplish its pre-war goals at Adrianople (i. e., failing to capture it without Serbian help) and that the pre-war agreements on the division of Macedonia had to be revised. Some circles in Bulgaria inclined toward going to war with Serbia and Greece on this issue. In June 1913 Serbia and Greece formed a new alliance, against Bulgaria. The Serbian Prime Minister, Nikola Pasic, told Greece it could have Thrace if Greece helped Serbia keep Bulgaria out of Serbian part of Macedonia, and the Greek Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos agreed. Seeing this as a violation of the pre-war agreements, and discretely encouraged by Germany and Austria-Hungary, Tsar Ferdinand declared war on Serbia and Greece and the Bulgarian army attacked on June 29. The Serbian and the Greek forces were initially on the retreat on the western border, but they soon took the upper hand and forced Bulgaria into retreat. The fighting was very harsh, with many casualties, especially during the key Battle of Bregalnitsa. Soon Romania entered the war and attacked Bulgaria from the north. The Ottoman Empire also attacked from the south-east. The war was now definitely lost for Bulgaria, which had to abandon most of her claims of Macedonia to Serbia and Greece, while the revived Ottomans retook Adrianople. Romania took possession of southern Dobruja. Download high resolution version (1044x1471, 281 KB)Boundaries on the Balkans after the First and the Second Balkan War. ... Download high resolution version (1044x1471, 281 KB)Boundaries on the Balkans after the First and the Second Balkan War. ... For an explanation of terms related to Macedonia, see Macedonia (terminology). ... Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Nikola Pašić (Serbian Никола Пашић, pronounced Pashich), (December 18, 1846- December 10, 1926) was a Serbian premier, who controlled Serbia from 1903 until his death. ... Eleftherios Venizelos (1864-1936), Greek statesman and diplomat. ... Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ... June 29 is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 185 days remaining. ... Southern Dobruja (Ð®Ð¶Ð½Ð° Ð”Ð¾Ð±Ñ€ÑƒÐ´Ð¶Ð° (Yuzhna Dobrudzha) in Bulgarian, Dobrogea de sud or Cadrilater in Romanian is an area of north-eastern Bulgaria comprising the administrative districts named for its two principal cities of Dobrich and Silistra. ...

War and social conflict

World War I

In the aftermath of the Balkan Wars Bulgarian opinion turned against Russia and the western powers, whom the Bulgarians felt had done nothing to help them. The government of Vasil Radoslavov aligned Bulgaria with Germany and Austria-Hungary, even though this meant also becoming an ally of the Ottomans, Bulgaria's traditional enemy. But Bulgaria now had no claims against the Ottomans, whereas Serbia, Greece and Romania (allies of Britain and France) were all in possession of lands perceived in Bulgaria as Bulgarian. Bulgaria, recuperating from the Balkan Wars, sat out the first year of World War I, but when Germany promised to restore the boundaries of the Treaty of San Stefano, Bulgaria, which had the largest army in the Balkans, declared war on Serbia in October 1915. Britain, France and Italy then declared war on Bulgaria. In the aftermath of the Balkan Wars Bulgarian opinion turned against Russia and the western powers, whom the Bulgarians felt had done nothing to help them. ... Vasil Radoslavov (Bulgarian: ) (1854-1929) was a leading Bulgarian liberal politician who twice served as Prime Minister. ... Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ... This article is becoming very long. ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar). ...

Although Bulgaria, in alliance with Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans, won military victories against Serbia and Romania, occupying much of Macedonia (taking Skopje in October), advancing into Greek Macedonia, and taking Dobruja from the Romanians in September 1916, the war soon became unpopular with the majority of Bulgarian people, who suffered great economic hardship and also disliked fighting their fellow Orthodox Christians in alliance with the Muslim Ottomans. The Agrarian Party leader, Aleksandur Stamboliyski, was imprisoned for his opposition to the war. The Russian Revolution of February 1917 had a great effect in Bulgaria, spreading antiwar and anti-monarchist sentiment among the troops and in the cities. In June Radoslavov's government resigned. Mutinies broke out in the army, Stamboliyski was released and a republic was proclaimed. Combatants Central Powers, Bulgaria Serbia, Triple Entente The Serbian Campaign was fought from August 1914 until then end of the war in 1918 with a nearly two year break in the middle as Serbia was conquered. ... Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ... Skopje (Macedonian: ) is the capital and largest city in the Republic of Macedonia, with more than a quarter of the population of the country, as well as the political, cultural, economical and academic centre of the country. ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... Aleksandar Stamboliyski (March 1, 1879_June 14, 1923) was the prime minister and virtual dictator of Bulgaria from 1918 until 1923. ... The February Revolution (N.S.: March Revolution) of 1917 in Russia was the first stage of the Russian Revolution of 1917. ... Year 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ...

The interwar years

In September 1918 the Serbs, British, French and Greeks broke through on the Macedonian front and Tsar Ferdinand was forced to sue for peace. Stamboliyski favoured democratic reforms, not a revolution. In order to head off the revolutionaries, he persuaded Ferdinand to abdicate in favour of his son Boris III. The revolutionaries were suppressed and the army disbanded. Under the Treaty of Neuilly (November 1919), Bulgaria lost its Aegean coastline to Greece and nearly all of its Macedonian territory to the new state of Yugoslavia, and had to give Dobruja back to the Romanians (see also Dobruja, Western Outlands, Western Thrace). Elections in March 1920 gave the Agrarians a large majority, and Stamboliyski formed Bulgaria's first genuinely democratic government. 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Tsar Boris III of Bulgaria (January 30, 1894 â€“ August 28, 1943), originally Boris Klemens Robert Maria Pius Ludwig Stanislaus Xaver, son of Ferdinand I, came to the throne in 1918 upon the abdication of his father, following Bulgarias defeat in World War I. This was the countrys second... The Treaty of Neuilly, dealing with Bulgaria for its role as one of the Central Powers in World War I, was signed on the November 27, 1919 at Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Yugoslavia (Jugoslavija in Latin, ÐˆÑƒÐ³Ð¾ÑÐ»Ð°Ð²Ð¸Ñ˜Ð° in Cyrillic, English: Land of the South Slavs) describes four political entities that existed one at a time on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe, during most of the 20th century. ... Map of Romania with Northern Dobruja highlighted in orange and Bulgaria with Southern Dobruja highlighted in yellow. ... A map of the Western Outlands The Western Outlands (Bulgarian: Zapadni pokraynini) or the Western Bulgarian Outlands is a term used by Bulgarians to describe several territorially separate regions in southeastern Serbia and in the southeast of the Republic of Macedonia. ... Western or Greek Thrace is the part of Thrace located between the rivers Nestos (Bulgarian Mesta) and Evros (Bulgarian Maritsa, Turkish MeriÃ§) in northeastern Greece. ... Year 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ...

Stamboliyski faced huge social problems in what was still a poor country inhabited mostly by peasant smallholders. Bulgaria was saddled with huge war reparations to Yugoslavia and Romania, and had to deal with the problem of refugees as pro-Bulgarian Macedonians had to leave the Yugoslav Macedonia. Nevertheless Stamboliyski was able to carry through many social reforms, although opposition from the Tsar, the landlords and the officers of the much-reduced but still influential army was powerful. Another bitter enemy was the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (VMRO), which favoured a war to regain Macedonia for Bulgaria. Faced with this array of enemies, Stamboliyski allied himself with the Bulgarian Communist Party and opened relations with the Soviet Union. Excerpt from the statute of BMARC, 1896 (in Bulgarian) Statute of the Bulgarian Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Committees Chapter I. - Goal Chapter II. - Structure and Organization Excerpt from the statute of IMARO, 1906 (in Bulgarian) Statute of Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organisation (amended at the general congress in 1906) Chapter I... The Bulgarian Communist Party (Balgarska Komunisticeska Partija) was the ruling party of the Peoples Republic of Bulgaria from 1946 until 1990 when it ceased to be a Communist state. ...

In March 1923 Stamboliyski signed an agreement with Yugoslavia recognising the new border and agreeing to suppress VMRO. This triggered a nationalist reaction, and on 9 June there was a coup after which Stamboliykski was assassinated (beheaded). A right wing government under Aleksandar Tsankov took power, backed by the Tsar, the army and the VMRO, who waged a White terror against the Agrarians and the Communists. The Communist leader Georgi Dimitrov fled to the Soviet Union. There was savage repression in 1925 following the second of two failed attempts on the Tsar's life in the bomb attack on Sofia Cathedral (the first attempt took place in the mountain pass of Arabakonak). But in 1926 the Tsar persuaded Tsankov to resign and a more moderate government under Andrey Lyapchev took office. An amnesty was proclaimed, although the Communists remained banned. The Agrarians reorganised and won elections in 1931 under the leadership of Nikola Mushanov. 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Bulgarian coup dÃ©tat of 1923, also known as the 9 June coup dÃ©tat (Bulgarian: , Devetoyunski prevrat), was a coup dÃ©tat in Bulgaria implemented by armed forces under General Ivan Valkovs Military Union on the eve of 9 June 1923. ... Aleksandur Tsolov Tsankov (Bulgarian: ) (1879-17 July 1959) was a leading Bulgarian right wing politician between the two World Wars. ... It has been suggested that The White Terror (France) be merged into this article or section. ... Georgi Dimitrov Georgi Mikhailov Dimitrov (Ð“ÐµÐ¾Ñ€Ð³Ð¸ ÐœÐ¸Ñ…Ð°Ð¹Ð»Ð¾Ð² Ð”Ð¸Ð¼Ð¸Ñ‚Ñ€Ð¾Ð², also known as Ð“ÐµÐ¾Ñ€Ð³Ð¸Ð¹ ÐœÐ¸Ñ…Ð°Ð¹Ð»Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡ Ð”Ð¸Ð¼Ð¸Ñ‚Ñ€Ð¾Ð²- Georgiy Mikhailovich Dimitrov) (June 18, 1882, Kovachevtsi, Pernik Province - July 2, 1949, Moscow) was a Bulgarian Communist leader. ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar). ... St Nedelya Church after the assault â€” a compilation of pictures showing the destruction The St Nedelya Church assault was the gravest act of terrorism in the history of Bulgaria. ... 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar). ... Andrey Lyapchev (Bulgarian: ) (30 November 1866-6 November 1933) was a leading political figure in Bulgaria between the World Wars. ... 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... Nikola Stoykov Mushanov (Bulgarian: ) (1872-1951) was a Bulgarian liberal politician who served as Prime Minister and leader of the Democratic Party. ...

Just when political stability had been restored, the full effects of the Great Depression hit Bulgaria, and social tensions rose again. In May 1934 there was another coup, the Agrarians were again suppressed, and an authoritarian regime headed by Kimon Georgiev established with the backing of Tsar Boris. In April 1935 Boris took power himself, ruling through puppet Prime Ministers Georgi Kyoseivanov (1935-40) and Bogdan Filov (1940-43). The Tsar's regime banned all opposition parties and took Bulgaria into alliance with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Although the signing of the Balkan Pact of 1938 restored good relations with Yugoslavia and Greece, the territorial issue continued to simmer. The Great Depression was a time of economic down turn, which started after the stock market crash on October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday. ... The Bulgarian coup dÃ©tat of 1934, also known as the 19 May coup dÃ©tat (Bulgarian: , Devetnadesetomayski prevrat), was a coup dÃ©tat in Bulgaria carried out by the Zveno military organization and the Military Union with the aid of the Bulgarian Army. ... Kimon Georgiev (Stoyanov) (1882-1969) was a Bulgarian prime minister. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... Georgi Ivanov Kyoseivanov (Bulgarian: ) (19 January 1884 - 27 July 1960) was a Bulgarian politician who went on to serve as Prime Minister. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Bogdan Filov (1883 - 1945) was a powerful politician in Bulgaria during Germany and became a university professor and historian in Bulgaria. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler Fascism (in Italian, fascismo), capitalized, refers to the right-wing authoritarian political movement which ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943 under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. ... The Balkan Pact was a treaty signed by Greece, Turkey, Romania, and Yugoslavia in 1934. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

World War II and after

Under Filov's government Bulgaria drifted into World War II, faced by an Invasion and bribed by the return of southern Dobruja from Romania, on the orders of Hitler (see Vienna Award), in September 1940. In March 1941 Bulgaria formally signed the Tripartite Pact, becoming a German ally, and German troops entered the country in preparation for the German invasion of Greece and Yugoslavia. When Yugoslavia and Greece were defeated, Bulgaria was allowed to occupy all of Greek Thrace and most of Macedonia. Bulgaria declared war on Britain and the United States, but resisted German pressure to declare war on the Soviet Union, fearful of pro-Russian sentiment in the country. Adolf Hitler with Tsar Boris III The military history of Bulgaria during World War II embraces a primary period of neutrality until 1 March 1941, a period of alliance with the Axis Powers until 9 September 1944 and a period of alignment with the Allies until the end of the... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Map of Romania with Northern Dobruja highlighted in orange and Bulgaria with Southern Dobruja highlighted in yellow. ... Hitler redirects here. ... The two Vienna Awards or Vienna Arbitration Awards or Vienna Arbitral Awards or Vienna Diktats or Viennese Arbitrals is the name of two arbitral awards (1938 and 1940), by which arbiters of the National Socialist Germany and of Fascist Italy tried to enforce territorial claims of the Revisionist Hungary ruled... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... The Tripartite Pact, also called the Three-Power Pact, Axis Pact, Three-way Pact or Tripartite Treaty was a pact signed in Berlin, Germany on September 27, 1940 by Saburo Kurusu of Imperial Japan, Adolf Hitler of Nazi Germany, and Benito Mussolini of Fascist Italy entering as a military alliance...

In August 1943 Tsar Boris died suddenly after returning from Germany (possibly assassinated, although this has never been proved) and was succeeded by his six-year old son Simeon II. Power was held by a council of regents headed by the young Tsar's uncle, Prince Kirill. The new Prime Minister, Dobri Bozhilov, was in most respects a German puppet. 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha as Prime Minister of Bulgaria Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria (born June 16, 1937) was the last Tsar of Bulgaria from 1943 to 1946, and was Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 2001 until August 2005. ... Dobri Bozhilov Dobri Bozhilov (June 13, 1884-February 1, 1945) was Prime Minister of Bulgaria during World War II. Born in Kotel, Bulgaria, Bozhilov attended the Higher Commercial School in Svishtov before starting work as a bookkeeper at the Bulgarian National Bank for the Kyustendil Banking Agency in 1902. ...

Resistance to the Germans and the Bulgarian regime was widespread by 1943, co-ordinated mainly by the Communists. Together with the Agrarians, now led by Nikola Petkov, the Social Democrats and even with many army officers they founded the Fatherland Front. Partisans operated in the mountainous west and south. By 1944 it was obvious that Germany was losing the war and the regime began to look for a way out. Bozhilov resigned in May, and his successor Ivan Ivanov Bagrianov tried to arrange negotiations with the western Allies. 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... Fatherland Front (FF) was originally a Bulgarian political resistance movement during World War II. The Zveno movement, the communist Bulgarian Workers Party, a wing of the Agrarian Union and the Bulgarian Social Democratic Party where part of the FF. It was soon dominated by the Bulgarian Communist Party. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Ivan Ivanov Bagrianov (Bulgarian: ) (1891-1945) was a leading Bulgarian politician who briefly served as Prime Minister during the Second World War. ...

Meanwhile, the capital Sofia was bombed by Allied aircraft in late 1943 and early 1944, with raids on other major cities following later. The Bulgarian capital of Sofia suffered a series of Allied bombing raids during World War II, from late 1943 to early 1944. ...

The communist coup

But it was the Soviet army which was rapidly advancing towards Bulgaria. In August Bulgaria unilaterally announced its withdrawal from the war and asked the German troops to leave: Bulgarian troops were hastily withdrawn from Greece and Yugoslavia. In September the Soviets crossed the northern border. The government, desperate to avoid a Soviet occupation, declared war on Germany, but the Soviets could not be put off, and on September 8 they declared war on Bulgaria - which thus found itself for a few days at war with both Germany and the Soviet Union. On September 16, the Soviet army entered Sofia. September 8 is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years). ... September 16 is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years). ...

The Fatherland Front took office in Sofia following a coup d'état, setting up a broad coalition under the former ruler Kimon Georgiev and including the Social Democrats and the Agrarians. Under the terms of the peace settlement, Bulgaria was allowed to keep Southern Dobruja, but formally renounced all claims to Greek and Yugoslav territory. To prevent further disputes 150,000 Bulgarians were expelled from Greek Thrace. The Communists deliberately took a minor role in the new government at first, but the Soviet representatives were the real power in the country. A Communist-controlled People's Militia was set up, which harassed and intimidated non-Communist parties. Partisans in Tarnovo on 9 September 1944 The Bulgarian coup dÃ©tat of 1944, also known as the 9 September coup dÃ©tat (Bulgarian: , Devetoseptemvriyski prevrat) and called in pre-1989 Bulgaria the National Uprising of 9 September or the Revolution of 9 September, was a forceful shuffle in Bulgarian... Southern Dobruja (Ð®Ð¶Ð½Ð° Ð”Ð¾Ð±Ñ€ÑƒÐ´Ð¶Ð° (Yuzhna Dobrudzha) in Bulgarian, Dobrogea de sud or Cadrilater in Romanian is an area of north-eastern Bulgaria comprising the administrative districts named for its two principal cities of Dobrich and Silistra. ...

In February 1945 the new realities of power in Bulgaria were shown when Prince Kirill and hundreds of other officials of the old regime were arrested on charges of war crimes. By June Kirill and the other regents, 22 former ministers and many others had been executed. In September 1946 the monarchy was abolished by plebiscite, and young Tsar Simeon was sent into exile. The Communists now openly took power, with Vasil Kolarov becoming President and Dimitrov becoming Prime Minister. Free elections promised for 1946 were blatantly rigged and were boycotted by the opposition. The Agrarians refused to co-operate with the new regime, and in June 1947 their leader Nikola Petkov was arrested. Despite strong international protests he was executed in September. This marked the final establishment of a Communist regime in Bulgaria. 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Vasil Petrov Kolarov (July 16, 1877 January 23, 1950) was a Bulgarian communist political leader. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ...

Bulgaria and the Holocaust

Despite a series of anti-Jewish legislation starting in 1940 (Jews were excluded from public service, banned from certain areas, restricted economically, and not allowed to intermarry) - see The Law for protection of the nation, Bulgaria was the only country besides Denmark and Finland to successfully resist the deportation of its Jewish population. Plans were made to deport Jews in 1943, and 20,000 were expelled from Sofia, but protests (initiated by Dimitar Peshev) from political and clerical leaders stopped further cooperation, saving all of the 50,000 Jews in the country. The Law for protection of the nation (Bulgarian: ) was a Bulgarian law from 23 January 1943 to 27 November 1944 , which directed measures against Jews. ...

Bulgaria did, however, actively deport Jews in areas in conquered territories. In March 1943, Bulgarian authorities arrested all the Jews in Macedonia and Thrace. In total, Bulgaria deported over 11,000 Jews to German-held territory, most were killed in Treblinka extermination camp. Thraciae veteris typvs. ... Treblinka is a small village in the Mazowieckie voivodship (province) of Poland. ...

Encyclopedia > History of Independent Bulgaria

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