In contrast to the Russian Federation and other former Soviet republics and the European Union, Bulgaria, the ninth of May is celebrated not the Victory Day and the Day of Europe, virtually no honor those tens of thousands of their compatriots who died in the struggle against fascism in the last year of the war.This article describes a dramatic and controversial participation of Bulgaria in World War II.
alliance with the Third Reich
well known that Bulgaria during World War II supported the Nazi Reich.The cooperation of the Bulgarian government with Germany began in the 30s of the last century.Then the Germans systematically armed the Bulgarian army.Also, the Nazis began to convert the Bulgarian ports of Varna and Bourgas for the deployment of its navy.Already in the winter of 1940-1941, Bulgaria headed a specialized group of the Luftwaffe, whose main task was to prepare the Bulgarian airfields for landing on them by German aircraft.At the same time the process has started construction of new airports.Over time, in Sofia it was established a special transport service and constructed 25 objects of transport communications that took custody of the German soldiers, while putting on the shape of soldiers in Bulgaria.
controversial aspects of cooperation
At the beginning of 1941 the Fuhrer expected the seizure of Yugoslavia and Greece, and to implement these plans, he simply needed to be under the control of the Bulgarian territory as a springboard for the invasion.This fact modern Bulgarian historians have presented as a dilemma that faced the king Boris III.He had two options: either to be subjected to war, either voluntarily let the Nazi army.Therefore, Bulgaria during the Second World War has actually become a victim of provocative policy of the Third Reich.
Bulgaria and Berlin Pact
As you know, the Bulgarian Tsar Boris had diplomatic flexibility, so tore Volunteer Union.In the spring of 1941 Bulgaria signed the pact Berlin, which is also called the "Berlin-Rome-Tokyo".A month later, German troops marched through the country and invaded Greece and Yugoslavia, while the Bulgarian army was also involved in expansion.Thus, Bulgaria entered the Second World War.For this Hitler rewarded a part of Macedonia, northern Greece and Serbia.Naturally, it was a fiction.Thus, by the end of April 1941 the territory of the Bulgarian state has increased almost one and a half times, and Boris III announced the creation of a "Greater Bulgaria" and uniting all people in a single state, again fictitious.Of course, all socio-economic processes are controlled from Berlin.
As an ally of Nazi Germany, Bulgaria was not hostile to many countries of the anti-Hitler coalition with the USSR were even diplomatic relations.Thus, the Bulgarian capital contained embassies all sides confrontation, so Sofia during the war called "the capital of espionage."
entry into the war
After Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, Adolf Hitler persistently demanded from the Bulgarian king sent military units to the Eastern theater of war.But Boris prudent for fear of unrest, refused such requests.That is, of Bulgaria during the Second World War almost fought against the Soviet Union.Officially, Bulgaria joined the fighting in mid-December 1941, when, according to the Nazi demands, declared war on the anti-Hitler coalition.Boris III allowed the Germans to use all of the economic resources of the country, as well as discriminatory measures adopted in relation to the Bulgarian Jews who lived in the country very much.These actions were terrible in its consequences.
antifascist resistance
In 1941-1943 Bulgarian fascists and socialists entered into a fierce struggle in the German rear, and organized a resistance movement.In 1942 the Fatherland Front was formed anti-fascist resistance.A Red Army offensive on the Eastern Front more inspired anti-fascist movement.In 1943, the Working Party of Bulgaria has established a rebel army, whose numbers grew steadily, and by the end of the war consisted of 30 thousand guerrillas.Bulgaria in World War II, as a state, was an ally of the Reich, but many Bulgarians do not recognize this heinous Union.
attempts to interrupt the Bulgarian-German alliance
When the German Reich began to suffer the first defeat on the Eastern Front, the Bulgarian king began to attempt to interrupt a shameful alliance with Adolf Hitler, but in August 1943, after a diplomatic meeting with the Fuhrer, he died.Meanwhile, the Bulgarian government council, which rules on behalf of his son Boris III - Simeon became just follow the pro-German rate, showing the most "cute" policy in relation to anti-human regime.
avail neutrality
vvoysk Soviet victory at Stalingrad and the subsequent attack, which brought Germany a lot of military defeats, as well as the bombing of Sofia and the US Air Force in England, caused in July 1944 a government coup.The new authorities have made efforts to bring peace to the Bulgarian lands, they asked for peace from the Soviet Union and its allies.At the end of August 1944 the authorities announced the complete neutrality of Bulgaria and put an ultimatum to the German troops, so that they left the country.But all attempts came to naught.Germany failed to comply with any requirements, and peace negotiations have failed.The new government resigned.September 2, 1944 a new government was formed, which worked only a few days, as the Soviet troops crossed the Bulgarian border.
Since Bulgaria during the Second World War had the status of an ally of the Third Reich, the Soviet Union declared war on September 5, 1944, and already on September 8, the Red Army entered the country.It is interesting that on the same day, Bulgaria declared war on Nazi Germany, and was in a state of military action against the former allies, and against the anti-Hitler coalition.But the very next day in the country was another coup, in which came to power Fatherland Front, and at the end of October 1944 in Moscow signed a truce.
Bulgaria's participation in the war against Germany
In the early autumn of 1944 in Bulgaria formed three combat-ready army, numbering about 500 thousand people.The first clashes of the Nazis and Bulgarian troops were in Serbia, which fought the German supporters of the regime and opposed Hitler, the former his allies - Bulgaria.
During the month the troops were able to get the first military successes, they quickly occupied Macedonia and parts of Serbia.After the first Bulgarian army (about 140 thousand) was transferred to the area of Hungary, where in March 1945, together with the Red Army has been involved in fierce battles at Lake Balaton, where the German armored units launched a confident attempt to counter offensives.
Thus, Bulgaria during the Second World War took a waiting position and contradictory, and for which you can blame, but it is possible and encouraged.Especially since the people of the country have organized large anti-fascist resistance.And Bulgaria after World War II became an ally of the Soviet Union.
