When Bulgaria closed its airspace to Russian planes flying to Syria, it no longer caused a wave of anger. After the epic with South Stream, as a result of which the gas pipeline is now planned to be sent to Turkey, this show off looked like a child’s prank. All that came out was an annoying one: “Well, what are you saying, bros?”
During the Soviet era, Bulgaria was always presented as a loyal ally of Russia and then the Soviet Union. And only those advanced in history knew that this was by no means so.
Excursion into history
Bulgaria fell as an independent state in the last years of the 14th century. For almost 500 years it became part of the Ottoman Empire. The Bulgarians repeatedly raised uprisings, which the Turks suppressed with invariable cruelty. Europe was loudly indignant and called for an end to the suffering of this freedom-loving European people. But the entire European struggle for the liberation of the Bulgarians was limited to shouts. And only Russia in 1877 took up the real liberation of Bulgaria, paying for it with the blood of thousands of its soldiers.
On March 3, 1878, an agreement was concluded in the city of San Stefano between the Russian and Ottoman empires. Officially, Bulgaria was granted autonomy within the Porte. But at the same time, Bulgaria received its own monarch (Grand Duke) and a constitution,The Bulgarian Church acquired official status,Türkiye was withdrawing all its military units from Bulgaria...
Bulgaria became completely independent in 1908, when Bulgarian Prince Ferdinand declared Bulgaria a sovereign state. But it is March 3, the day of the conclusion of the treaty in San Stefano, that the Bulgarians have celebrated since 1880 as the day of liberation and restoration of the Bulgarian state. Probably then, 135 years ago, the Bulgarians knew better when exactly their independence began.
First World War
During the First World War, Bulgaria, as a sign of gratitude for the independence won from the Turks and given to it, acted in an alliance with Germany, Turkey and Austria-Hungary against Russia.
On September 6, 1916, the Bulgarian army invaded the territory of Romania and attacked the Russian troops stationed there in accordance with the Russian-Romanian alliance treaty. The First World War ended badly for Bulgaria.
The country lost 11,000 sq. km of territory, undertook to pay an indemnity of 2.25 billion gold francs, it was prohibited from having aviation and heavy weapons, the fleet was reduced to 10 ships, and foreign troops were introduced into Bulgarian territory. After such a disgrace, Tsar Ferdinand I abdicated the throne in favor of his son and fled the country.
The Second World War
The example of his father taught nothing to the Bulgarian Tsar Boris III.
During World War II, Bulgaria, as before, entered into an alliance with Germany, placing its material resources and its territory at its disposal. Luftwaffe squadrons and Wehrmacht units were stationed in Bulgaria. It was from the territory of Bulgaria that on April 6, 1941, German troops invaded Greece and Yugoslavia.
Seeing how the Germans were victoriously seizing new territories, Boris III also hastened to join the game and on April 19, Bulgarian troops entered the territory of defending Greece and the already capitulated Yugoslavia. Hitler thanked his ally by giving him most of Macedonia and Northern Greece.
Bulgaria was the only one of Hitler's allies that did not declare war on the USSR. It's true. But by helping Germany, Bulgaria indirectly participated in the war of the Third Reich against the USSR. Bulgarian troops took part in the occupation of Greece and fought against Yugoslav partisans. And at that time, German divisions from Yugoslavia and Greece were transferred to the Eastern Front.
Brothers on Messerschmitts
Throughout the Second World War, the German military machine ran on Romanian oil. The Ploiesti factories were the main gas station in Germany. German tanks at Stalingrad, planes bombing Moscow, Doenitz submarines in the Atlantic drove, flew and sailed on Romanian fuel.
On June 11, 1942, 12 American B-24D Liberator heavy bombers took off from airfields in Egypt. This was the first bombing of the Ploiesti oil fields. Subsequently, bomber raids became regular. Together with the Luftwaffe pilots, Ploiesti was covered by Bulgarian pilots flying Messerschmitts donated by the Germans.
Brothers with Iron Crosses
Meet Stoyan Stoyanov, Bulgarian fighter pilot. On August 1, 1943, he scored his first victory, shooting down an American B-24D returning from a raid on Ploiesti. The entire crew (10 people) died. Then there were more victories. On August 7, 1943, Tsar Boris personally presented the “hero” with the medal “For Courage,” and on September 22, Stoyanov received the Iron Cross from the hands of Reichsmarshal Goering.
Stoyanov continued to fly and shoot down, and received another “For Courage.” He shot down his last plane on August 26, 1944. In total, the pilot shot down 15 Americans. Stoyanov was not the only one who shot down American planes and not the only one who wore the German Iron Cross on his chest. In total, Bulgarian pilots shot down 117 Allied aircraft.
On September 10, 1944, a coup took place in Bulgaria and yesterday’s allies became enemies. Now the Bulgarian pilots attacked the German planes. On September 14, for successful actions against the Luftwaffe, Stoyanov received the third medal “For Courage”.
We remember everything
Yes, the Bulgarian army did not fight with us in World War II. The Red Army passed through Bulgaria without fighting. The list of awards does not include “For the liberation of Sofia”. In 1944, Bulgarian soldiers did not shoot at Russians. We need to remember this.
We remember that “Alyosha” standing in Plovdiv became a symbol of the city. Three times (in 1989, 1993 and 1996) the authorities decided to dismantle the monument, and three times residents rebelled against this decision. Alyosha is standing.
And yet no one would call Bulgaria a loyal ally of Russia, especially today.
Yes, although Bulgaria owes Russia a lot, this does not mean that Bulgaria should love Russia forever. We must accept this reality. But the opposite is also true: Russia should not always lend its shoulder to its endlessly stumbling Bulgarian brother. And if Bulgaria ever knocks on a Russian house again, don’t be surprised when, instead of a wide open door, you hear from behind it “What do you want?” We remember everything...
Photos from open sources
If it is possible to apply the concept of “black ingratitude” in such an openly cynical area as geopolitics, then Bulgaria can undoubtedly serve as such a standard (at least in relation to Russia). Liberated (and repeatedly!) from foreign occupation at the cost of many Russian lives, saved by Russian blood from genocide, striving to join the USSR “be it as a carcass or as a scarecrow,” “brotherly” Bulgaria today is gladly ready to participate in any anti-Russian abomination.
Little Bulgaria, which achieved great “prosperity” in the European Union, was allowed to “steer” a little. That is, to chair the Council of Europe for six months from January 1, 2018. And what did the permanent representative of this country to the EU, Ambassador Dimiter Tsantchev, note at the very beginning of this presidency? Vivid Russophobic statements...
When asked what policy the Bulgarian presidency will continue regarding sanctions for the Russian Federation (especially considering that the president of the state speaks out about the advisability of lifting economic sanctions from the Russian Federation), Tsanchev immediately answered as an exemplary “European pioneer”:
“We will adhere to the five principles regarding relations with Russia, which were approved by the Council in March 2016. An important condition for changing the EU’s relations with Russia is the full implementation of the Minsk agreements by all parties to the conflict. Now this condition has not been met!”
And then he continued to “scratch”, as usual, according to the European Union-NATO “cheat sheet”: they say, "...The EU insists that Russia respect international law."(And she, go ahead, doesn’t respect her!), Brussels. one might say, with tender trepidation "...counts on the Normandy format, the implementation of the Minsk agreements..."(What does Russia have to do with it anyway?!), and the stumbling block here is “The withdrawal of heavy weapons from the contact line,” which “is absolutely necessary.”
Tsantchev knows exactly what is going on there in Donbass and who is to blame for it! He knows everything for certain about both heavy weapons and the Minsk agreements. For some reason, the Bulgarian diplomat does not say a word about the role of Ukraine in the constant breakdowns of Minsk. And also that Bulgaria has long been convicted of supplying weapons to the Kyiv junta - precisely the weapons with which it is shooting at Donbass, not caring about any and all “agreements” and “contact groups!” Obviously, Mr. Tsantchev professes the principle that is very popular in Western diplomacy today: “your own doesn’t stink”...
No less clearly than strange amnesia, this “diplomat” demonstrates refined hypocrisy - if you listen to him, then Bulgaria is ready to “work to improve relations with the Russian Federation if the situation changes.” But he laments. only, without shedding crocodile tears, Tsantchev, “there are no conditions for this yet”... what a pity! How can we live without her, without such a “brotherly” Bulgaria?!
So that no one has any doubts that these are not situational and spontaneous statements, but precisely the POSITION of Bulgaria at the state level, let me briefly recall the history of this country’s participation in the sanctions “movement” against Russia. Remind the main milestones, so to speak. In February 2015, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov said:
“Sanctions are not just the position of the EU, it is also the position of Bulgaria. We defend international law - no one can annex the territory of another country, no one can destabilize a neighbor through military means. We will continue to focus on sanctions as the only instrument of European influence on Russian policy. "
By the way, then this figure clarified that sanctions are being introduced by the European Union, and Bulgaria in particular... “so as not to fight with Russia”! Yes, Bulgaria. falling with all its might on Russia... it would be interesting to see!
In March 2015, the same Mitov, continuing to jump out of his own trousers, already said that Bulgaria was ready to “broaden and deepen” anti-Russian sanctions:
"Sanctions are the only tool that the European Union and the transatlantic community have at the moment. Of course, we are ready to react accordingly if the peace agreement in Donbass is violated."
It is not for nothing that in 2016 Bulgaria “received” gratitude from the main executioner of Ukraine and Donbass - Poroshenko. On this occasion, the press secretary of the president of the “nnezadezhnaya” Svyatoslav Tsegolko even tweeted: “President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko thanked Bulgaria for supporting the extension of sanctions against the Russian Federation for failure to comply with Minsk.
And here are the words of Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, again spoken in 2016:
“We all decided to leave sanctions against Russia in force until the Minsk agreements are implemented. And it will be possible to talk about new sanctions against Russia only if the bombing in Syria, which is killing civilians, does not stop.”
That is, the topic of Donbass was not enough for this clown - he decided to “remember Russia” and also Syria. Probably the Syrians really irritate the Bulgarians - in terms of gratitude, (elementary, human), to the Russian soldiers who give their lives for their freedom, these residents of the Middle East can give our “Slavic brothers” from Bulgaria not even a hundred, but a hundred thousand points in advance.
By the way, for their “fresh” Russophobia, the Bulgarians were also congratulated by the ghoul Poroshenko (the pinnacle of shame for normal people!):
“I congratulate our reliable partner - Bulgaria - on the start of the first presidency of the Council of the European Union in the history of this state. I look forward to progress in our ambitious agenda: deepening the political association and economic integration of Ukraine with the EU, as well as strengthening EU support in restoring the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Our strength lies in unity!"- Poroshenko wrote.
Well, there is absolutely nothing surprising here. Let me remind you, in case anyone has forgotten, that in two World Wars Bulgaria fought against Russia and the USSR. Well, “fought” - that’s it. Of course, it is said loudly, but officially it belonged to military alliances hostile to us. The blood of Russian soldiers shed at Shipka and Plevna, the soulful song about Alyosha standing on the mound - “Bulgaria's Russian soldier” - all this has long been forgotten and trampled into the dirt for the sake of a momentary and extremely dubious political situation.
The only thing that needs to be done about all this is to firmly remember the REAL attitude of the Bulgarians towards the Russians. So that again, having forgotten, you won’t feel emotional when they once again come running to ask to be “brothers”.
Alexander Neukropny specially for Planet Today
A brief excursion into the history of relations between the Bulgarian state and Russia should begin with a consideration of the fate of Volga Bulgaria (or Bulgaria), a constant rival-ally of the ancient Russian princes. The ancestors of this Slavic people were one of the fragments of the Hun invasion. The once united people of Turkic origin was forced to split into two branches, which eventually turned out to be located three thousand kilometers from each other. One of them established itself in the Balkans and over time assimilated with the local Slavic population, adopting their language and culture, leaving memories of its genetic roots only in its own name. The other branch ended up in the northeast and eventually settled at the mouth of the Kama River, where they mixed with the indigenous Finnish tribes, but retained their language and customs. Thus, the structure of the Bulgarian linguistic system became the basis for the formation of the modern Chuvash language.
The next episode of Russian-Bulgarian relations can be considered the Southern Campaigns of the Old Russian Prince Svyatoslav, who invaded Bulgaria in 967 without encountering serious resistance. The warlike Rurikovich came to the Balkans not for booty, but with the clear intention of asserting his advantage in this densely populated and rich region. The prince had no intention of limiting himself to the conquest of Bulgaria, but was counting on further expansion, as evidenced by the construction of Pereyaslavets as an outpost for a subsequent large-scale invasion. But dreams of creating their own great empire were not destined to come true.
Monument to Prince Svyatoslav on the island of Khortitsa
It is worth noting that the central ideological message in Russian-Bulgarian relations (as well as in politics in the Balkans in general) was the idea of restoring the Byzantine Empire and Constantinople as a “second Rome”, the implementation of which was designed by the geopolitical projects of many Russian tsars. At the end of the 15th century, Bulgaria was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, in return initially receiving the status of a vassal, and after the Battle of Nicopolis in 1396, Sultan Bayezid I finally annexed Bulgaria to his state. The result of 500 years of Turkish rule was the widespread ruin of the country, a decrease in population, and the subordination of the autonomous Bulgarian church to the Patriarch of Constantinople. Thus, Bulgaria found itself under the rule of a real yoke, which had previously led to the devastation of most of the Russian principalities.
In Bulgaria there are over 400 monuments to Russians who died in the Russian-Turkish war
In the 18th century, the power of the Turkish Sultan on the outskirtsThe empire begins to weaken, which both local authorities, who actually contributed to the country’s slide into anarchy, and foreign policy allies and patrons managed to take advantage of. In the internal politics of Bulgaria, the period of Kurdzhaliism begins, so named after the Kurdzhali bandits that kept the entire population of the country in fear. Many peasants were forced to flee from the countryside to the cities, and the wealthiest emigrated to the south of Russia, which was rapidly conquering living space. In parallel with the unfolding crisis processes in the power structure of the Bulgarian Principality, a period of revival began in the cultural sphere, which entailed the flourishing of various types of art, the writing of their own national history and the beginning of the liberation struggle against Turkish rule.
Bashibazouki
One of the important stages of Russian-Bulgarian relations that preceded the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878 was the so-called “Greek project” of Catherine II, the idea of which arose after the annexation of Crimea and the acquisition of the northern shore of the Black Sea. This was greatly facilitated by the archipelago naval expedition, as a result of which the Russian fleet for the first time was able to test its strength far from its borders, and through its military operations it helped separate Egypt from the Ottoman Empire. The capital of the Turkish state, Istanbul, was at the center of Catherine’s grandiose plans of conquest, which was to be restored to its original name “Constantinople” and its former strategic status. The Russian ruler was so inspired by this idea that she decided to name her grandson in honor of the first and last Byzantine emperor. The results of the next Russian-Turkish war disappointed Catherine, and the great project to revive Byzantium remained a utopian undertaking.
Bulgaria fought against Russia in both world wars
The second liberation campaign against Constantinople was destined to take place already in the next century, during the famous Russian-Turkish war, undertaken during the reign of Alexander II. The war of 1877-1878 had not only geopolitical, but also important national significance for Russia: it was supposed to contribute to the socio-economic development of the southern regions of Russia, which found themselves in a difficult situation as a result of the Treaty of Paris, which put an end to the unsuccessful Crimean War. The Russian-Turkish strategic confrontation in the Balkans became the ideological basis for the formation of the national “Russian idea”, which managed to unite around itself representatives of civil society of various political views. The poet Nikolai Turoverov, reflecting on the reasons for the collapse of the Russian Empire, recalled the soldiers “who atoned for the Crimean shame with Russian blood in the Balkans.” The war seemed justified from the point of view of the internal liberation processes that took place in the regions subject to the Ottoman Empire, including Bulgaria. Here, in the summer of 1875, a general uprising of the Slavic population began with the goal of throwing off many years of Turkish oppression. The atrocities of the Bashi-Bazouks in Bulgaria, where over 30 thousand civilians were massacred in a short time, received wide resonance in Europe. Sympathy for the humiliated and destroyed Balkan Slavs, brothers in faith, became the main trend of public thought - almost the entire press and the top of the political elite spoke out for the speedy curbing of “Ottoman barbarism.”
Without dwelling in detail on each stage of military operations, it is worth noting the almost exemplary operation carried out by the Russian command to cross the Danube at the beginning of the war. Thus, according to expert estimates, the possible losses of the army should have ranged from 10 to 30 thousand people, but in reality the actual losses were minimal: 748 people were killed, drowned and wounded. In general, the initial rapid pace of the Russian advance through the Balkan Mountains in mid-July 1877 was lost, not without the influence of prolonged siege operations at Nikopol, Ruschuk and Plevna, as well as the traditional lack of forces and a low level of strategic planning. Historian A.B. Shirokorad remarks on this matter: “It was as if they were going to fight not with the huge Ottoman Empire, but with the Kingdom of Khiva.”
The march “Farewell of the Slav” was written out of sympathy for Bulgaria
Cases of real heroism among Russian soldiers and junior officers at Plevna are well known, but on the other side of the scale they are outweighed by the behavior of the generals. Contemporaries describe the constant neglect of military intelligence, the desire for excessive excesses even in front-line conditions, and deliberate inertia in the execution of inconvenient (“outrageous”) orders. This is how the image of a unique collective “General Skalozub” emerged, which was especially clearly dissonant with the bloody phenomenon of Plevna. After the capture of the fortress of Adrianople in January 1878, the path to Constantinople was open - the long-standing dream of all Russian rulers, starting from Oleg and Svyatoslav, had every chance of coming true. Every Russian soldier was eager to re-install the Orthodox cross over the dome of the coveted Hagia Sophia, converted by the Turks into a mosque. However, Alexander II did not dare to give the final order, and in the town of San Stefano, 10 versts west of Constantinople, on February 19, 1878, a peace treaty was signed between Russia and the Ottoman Empire.
Capture of Plevna by Russian troops
The main beneficiary of the Russian-Turkish war under the Treaty of San Stefano was Bulgaria. A completely new state, made up of Bulgarian vilayets (districts) of the Ottoman Empire, with the stroke of the pen of the author of the peace treaty, Count Nikolai Pavlovich Ignatiev, was given a huge territory - from the Danube to the Aegean Sea and from the Black Sea to Lake Ohrid. In addition, some territories in Moesia, Macedonia and Thrace, populated by ethnic Bulgarians, were transferred under the jurisdiction of “Great Bulgaria” (as the new state was immediately “christened”). The creation of such a large state, which could potentially pose a serious threat, caused a storm of indignation among neighboring countries: Serbia, Romania, Greece and, of course, Austria-Hungary.
This open “pro-Bulgarian” policy of the Russian state did not bring any significant results. On the one hand, Russia's diplomatic capabilities in the Balkan region decreased, which led to the increased influence of Austria-Hungary and the open territorial claims of the metropolis for colonial acquisitions. Another recent Russian ally, Romania, immediately turned into an enemy, and the desperately supported Bulgaria took the anti-Russian side in both the First World War and the Second. Thus, the Russian Empire played a very significant role in the formation of the famous “knot of contradictions” in the Balkans, which could only be cut through by military means.
Russian command near Plevna
In June 1878, an international congress was held in Berlin to revise the terms of the Treaty of San Stefano. As a result, through the combined efforts of the “European pack,” as General M.D. Skobelev so bluntly called the Berlin Congress, all the most “tasty” pieces were taken away from the “Russian bear.” The failed “Great Bulgaria” was divided into three parts, and only the central part received the status of a Bulgarian autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire. The Bulgarians themselves were now forced to pay an annual tribute to Turkey. The lands of Macedonia - from the Adriatic and the Aegean Sea - were returned to the Turks. From part of the Bulgarian lands, the autonomous province of Eastern Rumelia was created, administratively subordinate to Constantinople. The author of the Treaty of San Stefano, Count Ignatiev, resigned, and the then Chancellor Alexander Mikhailovich Gorchakov wrote to Emperor Alexander II: “The Berlin Treaty is the blackest page in my career.”
100 years ago, on October 14, 1915, Bulgaria declared war on Serbia and entered World War I on the side of the Central Powers. Bulgaria sought to establish itself as a leader on the Balkan Peninsula and get even with its neighbors for the humiliating defeat in the Second Balkan War of 1913 (“National Catastrophe”) and for the loss of territories. The Bulgarian elite dreamed of creating a “Greater Bulgaria” with the capture of the northern coast of the Aegean Sea with Thessaloniki, all of Macedonia and Dobrudja up to the mouth of the Danube, with access to the Sea of Marmara. As a result, the Slavic power, most of whose population sympathized with the Russians, began to fight on the side of Germany and Austria. Bulgaria's entry into the war on the side of the Central Powers predetermined the defeat of Serbia.
Background. From Liberation to the Second Balkan War
The Russian army gave Bulgaria freedom from the Ottoman yoke. Following the results of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. Bulgaria, with its center in Sofia, was declared an autonomous principality, effectively becoming an independent state. However, a significant part of historical Bulgaria is the Bulgarian lands south of the Balkans (Eastern Rumelia with its center in Philippopolis); and Macedonia - the lands to the Adriatic and the Aegean Sea, remained with the Ottoman Empire. This did not suit Sofia. The Bulgarian leadership set a course for the unification of Bulgaria and Rumelia. At the same time, St. Petersburg did not want to “rock the boat” in the Balkans and did not support Sofia. Therefore, Sofia gradually began to look for allies in the West.
As a result of a popular uprising in Eastern Rumelia on September 8, 1885, its unification with Bulgaria was proclaimed in Philippopolis (Plovdiv). This event triggered the Bulgarian crisis. Vienna, fearing the emergence of a powerful Slavic power in the Balkans that would be oriented towards Russia, pushed Serbia to enter into a war with the still fragile principality of Bulgaria, promising Serbia territorial acquisitions in the Western Balkans. Serbia, in order to prevent the strengthening of Bulgaria and having a number of territorial disputes with the Bulgarians, declared war on Bulgaria. Serbia hoped that Türkiye would support it. But the Ottomans were afraid of pressure from the great powers, especially Russia, and did not enter the war. The Serbs underestimated the enemy and were defeated. Only the intervention of Austria-Hungary, which warned Bulgaria that if the Bulgarian army did not retreat, then Austria would intervene in the war, stopped the Bulgarian offensive. In February 1886, a peace treaty was signed in Bucharest; no territorial changes were made. However, the great powers accepted the unification of Bulgaria. At the same time, Sofia was very offended by Russia.
In Sofia itself, a pro-Russian coup took place and Prince Alexander, who supported the course of unifying Bulgaria and was oriented toward Austria, was overthrown. A man who was also not a supporter of Russia was again chosen as the new prince - Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, a protege of Austria-Hungary. Ferdinand claimed Bulgaria's leadership in the Balkans, considering it the main contender for the European inheritance of the Ottoman Empire, which irritated Serbia and Russia. Therefore, he relied on the support of Austria and Germany.
Thus, Bulgaria met the 20th century as a completely different country than after liberation from the Turkish yoke. The struggle between Russophobes and Russophiles in the Bulgarian elite ended in victory for the Russophobes. Prince Ferdinand I established a “personal regime” based on fear and corruption. Russophobia even affected the sacred memory of the national liberation movement of 1876-1878 for Bulgarians. The temple-monument of St. Alexander Nevsky, built in 1912 in honor of Russian soldiers-liberators and standing unconsecrated for three years, was renamed by government decree in 1915 into the Cathedral Church of Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius with the following argument: “The name of Alexander Nevsky ... never did not meet the people’s aspirations and ideals.”
The Treaty of Berlin in 1878 granted Bulgaria the status of a protectorate of the Ottoman Empire. Although in reality the country conducted its own foreign policy and was no longer subordinate to Istanbul for a long time, the status of a dependent state infringed on the national pride of the Bulgarians. After a coup took place in Turkey on July 11, 1908 and the government of the Young Turks came to power, Sofia decided that the time had come to shed the formal status of a dependent territory. Bulgaria has clearly shown that it wants complete independence. In response, the Ottoman Empire recalled its ambassador from Sofia. The Balkans were again on the brink of war.
In September 1908, several secret meetings between Ferdinand I and the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph took place in Sofia. Vienna supported Sofia's position, since at that time she was preparing for the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and she needed to distract Russia. On September 22, 1908, a solemn ceremony took place to proclaim a new state - the Kingdom of Bulgaria. Ferdinand was declared king.
Despite a number of severe defeats for the Ottoman Empire, it still had large possessions in the Balkans, where millions of Bulgarians, Serbs and Greeks lived. Opponents of the Ottoman Empire decided to unite in order to finally oust Turkey from Europe and restore the integrity of their territories. Bulgaria, Serbia and Greece wanted to include historical lands and, moreover, achieve the greatest expansion of the borders of their powers (the “Great Greece”, “Great Serbia” and “Great Bulgaria” projects). These projects conflicted with each other, since Bulgaria and Greece jointly laid claim to Thrace; Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria - to Macedonia, Serbia - to the Adriatic Sea. Greece, Serbia and Montenegro were planning to partition Albania. However, for now they had a common enemy - Türkiye. Alone, neither Bulgaria, nor Serbia, nor Greece could resist the Ottoman Empire, which, despite its decline, still remained a great power with a large army. In March 1912, an agreement was signed between Serbia and Bulgaria to create a defensive alliance. Greece joined the union in May. Later, Montenegro and Romania signed a union treaty.
On October 8, 1912, the First Balkan War began. In May 1913, the war ended with the complete victory of the Balkan allies over the Ottoman Empire. According to the London Peace Treaty, Bulgaria acquired the province of Thrace with access to the Aegean Sea, as well as part of Macedonia. The First Balkan War allowed Bulgaria to create a fairly strong army with modern artillery and the first aviation detachment. The young Bulgarian industry was actively developing. Tsar Ferdinand was generally open to everything new and tried to develop the country.
The London Treaty opened the way to a new war. The Ottoman Empire abandoned most of its possessions in Europe in favor of the Balkan Union, but the member countries of the union had to divide the conquered territories themselves, without foreign mediation. None of the founding states of the Balkan Union was fully satisfied with the London Agreement and the result of the war. Serbia did not gain access to the Adriatic due to the formation of the new state of Albania, Montenegro did not occupy Shkoder, Greece did not annex Thrace and part of Albania. Bulgaria was dissatisfied with the Serbian claims to Macedonia. There were a lot of territories where Bulgarians lived mixed with Romanians, Serbs or Greeks. There was a dispute about the “Macedonians”; the Serbs considered them Serbs, the Bulgarians considered them Bulgarians. In Greece, Macedonia was considered part of ancient Greece. The division of the spoils led to a new war.
The war did not start over Albania, since the new independent state found itself under the protectorate of the great powers (primarily Austria-Hungary and Italy). Therefore, the main stumbling block was Macedonia and Thrace. Macedonia was claimed by Bulgaria and Serbia, Thrace was claimed by Greece and Bulgaria. Germany and Austria-Hungary played a major role in the outbreak of the war, who wanted to destroy the Balkan Union and, on the eve of a great war in Europe, lure its participants into their camp. German and Austrian diplomats in Belgrade persuaded the Serbian king to go to war with Bulgaria and Greece. They say that since Serbia was unable to gain access to the Adriatic, it can compensate for this by capturing Macedonia and Thessaloniki. Thus, Serbia would have access to the Aegean Sea. In Sofia, envoys from Vienna and Berlin said the same thing, but to Tsar Ferdinand. Austria-Hungary promised Bulgaria support in the Macedonian issue.
As a result, Serbia began to prepare for war and entered into an anti-Bulgarian alliance with Greece, which did not want the strengthening of Bulgaria and already had a common border with Serbia. Montenegro has become Serbia's traditional ally. British diplomat George Buchanan said about the outbreak of war: “Bulgaria was responsible for the opening of hostilities; Greece and Serbia well deserved the charge of deliberate provocation.” Indeed, it was an unjust war; all participants were, to one degree or another, aggressors.
In the summer of 1913, Bulgaria started the war, hoping for the complete capture of Macedonia. The Bulgarians were initially successful, but were then stopped. The Serbian-Greek troops recovered from the first unexpected blow and launched a counteroffensive. In addition, Romania (which laid claim to lands in Southern Dobruja) and Turkey decided to take advantage of the opportunity. They opposed Bulgaria. There was almost no resistance to the Romanian troops, since all the Bulgarian forces were located far in the west of the country - on the Serbian-Bulgarian and Greek-Bulgarian fronts. The Turks captured Eastern Thrace and Adrianople. Bulgaria suffered a complete defeat.
On August 10, 1913, the Bucharest Peace Treaty was signed. Bulgaria, as the losing side in the war, lost almost all the territories captured during the First Balkan War and, in addition, Southern Dobruja, which Romania received. On September 29, 1913, the Treaty of Constantinople was signed. The Ottoman Empire returned part of Eastern Thrace and the city of Adrianople (Edirne).
It is clear that Sofia was dissatisfied with this outcome of the war and wanted revenge. It is believed that the Bulgarian Tsar Ferdinand I, after signing the treaty, said the phrase: “My revenge will be terrible.” Among the losers was also Russia, which suffered a serious diplomatic defeat in the Balkans. The Slavic “brothers” carried out a massacre to the delight of Germany and Austria. The Balkan knot was not unraveled, but only added new reasons for the big war. So Serbia radicalized on the wave of victory. In Belgrade they dreamed of a “Greater Serbia”, which would include the lands of the now Austro-Hungarian Empire. In Vienna they were very concerned and were looking for an opportunity to “neutralize” Serbia.” Revanchist Bulgaria dreamed of restoring the borders of May 1913, for which it was necessary to break up Serbia. In addition, the Bulgarians had territorial claims to Romania, Greece and Turkey.
Bulgarian Tsar Ferdinand I
On the way to war
The defeat in the Second Balkan War was regarded in Bulgaria as the "First National Catastrophe". Vasil Radoslavov became Prime Minister, who in foreign policy was guided by Germany and Austria-Hungary. Ferdinand I supported this course. In Bulgaria, a “cleansing” was carried out among pro-Russian generals. Thus, the former chief of the Bulgarian General Staff, commander of the Bulgarian army during the First Balkan War and assistant commander-in-chief during the Second Balkan War, General Radko-Dmitriev was sent as envoy to Russia (and during the First World War he will fight on the side of Russia).
The ideas of revanchism were actively cultivated in Bulgarian society. Many leading newspapers carried out anti-Serbian and anti-Russian propaganda and were pro-German. The press propagated the idea that Bulgaria lost the war because the Entente countries (including Russia) supported Bulgaria's enemies - Greece and Serbia. Therefore, in a future confrontation, in order to regain lost territories, it is necessary to support Germany. Politicians often openly declared the need for revenge. In addition, the country was flooded with forced refugees from Macedonia, Thrace, and Southern Dobruja, which increased the discontent of the people and the positions of the revanchists. However, not everyone in Bulgaria believed that their country should get involved in a world war. In Bulgaria there were still many supporters of an alliance with Russia.
Before the outbreak of the First World War, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, frightened by the growing power of Serbia, showed the greatest interest in Bulgaria. Bulgaria also considered Serbia its main enemy, which could lead to the formalization of the Austro-Bulgarian union. However, at this time Berlin did not share Vienna's aspirations. Kaiser Wilhelm II believed that Bulgaria had suffered a severe defeat and its army had lost its combat effectiveness. Germany was more interested in Romania and Greece. Therefore, before the start of the war, Berlin did not give Vienna permission for active actions against Bulgaria for a long time. Russia at this time unsuccessfully tried to restore its influence in Bulgaria. St. Petersburg offered to transfer the important port of Kavala on the Aegean coast to Bulgaria, but France and Great Britain did not support this initiative. All attempts by Russian diplomats to restore the Balkan Union failed.
Finance played a major role in Bulgaria's behavior. During the Balkan Wars, Sofia fell into large debts. The defeat led to serious problems in the economy and finances. At the end of 1913, the Bulgarians began to look for the possibility of obtaining a large loan abroad. Envoys were sent to Paris, Vienna and Berlin. During the negotiations in Paris, the Bulgarians were made to understand that the loan was possible only if the Radoslavov cabinet abandoned the course of rapprochement with Austria-Hungary and Germany. Austria and Germany met Bulgaria halfway.
In mid-June 1914, the Bulgarian leadership decided to enter into an agreement with Austrian and German financiers. Russia and France, in order to disrupt this agreement, sent the Bulgarian government a proposal for a loan of 500 million francs without any political conditions and onerous annexes. However, Sofia, despite the profitability of the French offer, refused it. At the same time, the Bulgarian government hid from the public the fact that France was offering a loan without conditions. As a result, German bankers provided Bulgaria with a loan of 500 million francs. Creditors received the right to build a railway to the Aegean coast, a free concession to operate coal mines, Bulgaria had to spend part of the money on military orders at enterprises in Germany and Austria-Hungary. After the signing of the agreement, German influence on Bulgaria increased significantly.
Head of the Government of Bulgaria Vasil Radoslavov
Bulgaria during the First World War
The Austro-Serbian conflict that began after the Sarajevo murder made Sofia happy. There was hope that this conflict would resolve Bulgarian territorial problems. In addition, the outbreak of the World War increased the importance of Bulgaria for the warring alliances. For each of the two coalitions, the Bulgarian army and resources were of significant importance. At maximum tension, Bulgaria could field an army of half a million. Bulgaria occupied an important military-strategic position in the region: the country had access to the Black and Aegean Seas, and had a common border with all significant Balkan states. For Germany and Austria, Bulgaria was important as a strategic link to Turkey and the Middle East. Bulgaria, in the opinion of Vienna and Berlin, could neutralize Romania and Greece and help in the defeat of Serbia. Especially after the failure of the Austrian army's attempts to defeat Serbia during the 1914 campaign. For Atlanta, Bulgaria was a corridor connecting Serbia with Russia. The transition of Bulgaria to the side of the Entente could lead to a severance of ties between Germany, Austria and Turkey, increase pressure on the Ottoman Empire and strengthen Serbia.
On August 1, 1914, Radoslavov announced in the People's Assembly the determination of the Bulgarian government to maintain neutrality until the very end of the war. In fact, it was a deception. Sofia began bargaining with Berlin and Vienna. Ferdinand and the Bulgarian government did not immediately intend to rush into battle. They used “wise neutrality” to negotiate the highest price for joining the warrior and see which side the military fortunes leaned on. In addition, Bulgaria was exhausted by previous wars; it was necessary to restore strength. And it was not easy to raise the Bulgarian people to a new war. In addition, neighboring Greece and Romania took a neutral position.
On August 5, 1914, the Russian envoy in Sofia, A. Savinsky, presented Tsar Ferdinand with a document in which Bulgaria was invited to join Russia in the name of “... the implementation of people's ideals.” Sofia declared strict neutrality. It must be said that the Entente powers had good trump cards - they could tempt Sofia with the prospects of a possible division of the Turkish inheritance. However, the weakness of the unity of the positions of France, Russia and England affected. Britain quite often refrained from actively supporting the position of the representatives of Russia and France in Sofia.
In this regard, it was easier for Vienna and Berlin to develop a common position and jointly put pressure on Turkey to make concessions to Bulgaria. True, they had to take a restrained position towards the Balkan countries, which so far remained neutral, so as not to push them into the Entente camp. As a result, the struggle for Bulgaria dragged on.
On November 1, 1914, Bulgaria officially confirmed its neutrality after the Ottoman Empire entered the war. Sofia took into account the successes of Serbia in the fight against Austria-Hungary, the neutrality of Greece and Romania, and the successes of the Russian army in Austrian Galicia. Moreover, Bulgarian society was not enthusiastic about Bulgaria's possible participation in the European conflict. At the same time, the Bulgarian government was still hostile to Russia. Petersburg’s request to allow Russian transports with grain for Serbia to pass through Bulgarian territory was categorically rejected by Radoslavov’s cabinet. In turn, transports from Germany and Austria-Hungary followed the territory of Bulgaria to the Ottoman Empire.
At the initiative of Russia, Entente diplomats began discussing the size of possible territorial increments for Bulgaria, which could be used to lure Sofia into their camp. In addition to Turkish territories, the Entente tried to persuade Serbia to cede part of Macedonia. Traditional British-Russian contradictions in the Balkans and in the Straits area, as well as the intransigence of Serbia, for a long time did not allow us to develop a common position on this issue. Only on December 7, 1914, Sofia was given a document stating that if Bulgaria remained neutral in the war, it would receive minor territorial compensation in Eastern Thrace at the expense of Turkey. If Bulgaria entered the war on the side of the Entente, then it was promised an expansion of territorial increments in Eastern Thrace. Sofia promised to maintain neutrality, although she continued active negotiations with Berlin and Vienna.
At the end of 1914, the Bulgarian government was in no hurry to enter the war. The failure of the German offensive in France, the successes of Russian troops in the fight against Austria-Hungary and the reluctance of the people to fight had a sobering effect on the highest ruling circles of the Third Bulgarian Kingdom. At the same time, right-wing political forces announced “the leading role of Bulgaria in the Balkans” and plans to create “Great Bulgaria”, with access to three seas - the Black, Marmara and Aegean.
In January 1915, Austria-Hungary and Germany, despite the severity of the war, provided new loans to Bulgaria in the amount of 150 million marks. At the same time, the Germans and Austrians financed Bulgarian newspapers, bribed politicians and provided financial assistance to pro-German political forces (the same policy was pursued in Greece). Therefore, in February 1915, Sofia again allowed the transit of goods from Austria and Germany to Turkey. Bulgaria made exciting offers at the expense of Turkey, the Turks were offered large compensation at the expense of Serbia.
The start of the Dardanelles operation contributed to the increased interest of Britain and France in Bulgaria. The Entente powers began funding newspapers and politicians in Bulgaria, following the example of Austria-Hungary and Germany. Envoys were sent to Sofia to try to convince Ferdinand of the benefits of an alliance with the Entente. Bulgaria was offered concessions at the expense of Turkey, access to the Sea of Marmara at Rodosto, the opportunity to return part of Dobruzhda (Romanian possessions), indicating that Romania in return would receive after the war part of Hungary, whose population is Romanian. However, Bulgaria demanded another part of Serbian and Greek Macedonia with the port of Kavala.
The “Bulgarian bride” still had doubts. The Bulgarian government was ready to support the Central Powers. However, in Bulgaria they were still afraid of Russia. At the same time, Sofia was irritated by Russia’s plans to gain Constantinople. Therefore, the bargaining continued.
Bulgarian units go to war
Bulgaria decides to enter the war
In the spring of 1915, Bulgaria continued to maintain “wise neutrality,” which enabled the politicians of this country to consistently sell themselves to either Germany or the Entente. Waiting and lavishing declarations of benevolent neutrality, Bulgarian politicians, like the Greeks, scattered assurances of friendship towards the Anglo-French, and themselves leaned towards Germany. As a result, England and France, confident that Bulgaria would not act against the Entente, did not force negotiations.
Only on May 29, 1915, representatives of the Entente handed over to the Bulgarian government a document in which Bulgaria was again invited to take the side of England, France and Russia. The Entente countries guaranteed the return of Eastern Thrace to the Bulgarian kingdom at the expense of Turkey. The Allies promised to begin negotiations with Belgrade, Athens and Bucharest on the transfer to Bulgaria of some parts of Vardar Macedonia, Aegean Macedonia and Southern Dobruja. On June 14, the Bulgarian government proposed to clearly define the boundaries of the territories in Vardar and Aegean Macedonia, which should become part of Bulgaria. However, the Entente was unable to do this. If Serbia, forced by military circumstances, was ready to make concessions, then Greece and Romania did not want to concede. In addition, among representatives of France, Great Britain and Russia there was still no unity on ways to involve Bulgaria in the war on the side of the Entente powers.
Germany and Austria-Hungary were more generous. They unequivocally stated that if Bulgaria came out on their side, Sofia would receive all of Macedonia, Thrace, as well as Southern Dobruja (if Romania entered the war on the side of the Entente). In addition, Germany pledged to provide Bulgaria with a war loan in the amount of 500 million marks. Germany also managed to reconcile Bulgaria and Turkey. The Germans prepared an agreement that satisfied the Bulgarians at the expense of Turkey. In addition, the situation on the fronts was unfavorable for the Entente. England and France failed the Dardanelles operation. Russia suffered a heavy defeat on the Eastern Front, lost Galicia and Russian Poland. Anglo-French troops behaved passively on the Western Front. This convinced the Bulgarian leadership that the Central Powers were gaining the upper hand in the war, and that the time had come to enter the war and get their share of the spoils.
On September 6, 1915, a convention was signed between Germany and Bulgaria in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia. Bulgaria was represented by the head of government Vasil Radoslavov, and Germany by Georg Michaelis. According to the terms of the convention. Germany and Austria-Hungary each had to field six infantry divisions within 30 days, and Bulgaria - four divisions within 35 days for action against Serbia. General command of the Austro-German-Bulgarian group was to be taken by German General August von Mackensen. In addition, it was planned to station a mixed German infantry brigade in Varna and Burgas and send submarines to the Black Sea. Bulgaria pledged to mobilize four divisions by September 21 and begin operations in Serbian Macedonia on October 11. Germany pledged to provide financial and material support to Bulgaria. Bulgaria opened its territory for the transit of goods from the Ottoman Empire to Germany and vice versa.
Only when Bulgaria had already determined its position did the Entente powers become alarmed and began to make more tempting offers. Thus, on September 15, 1915, the Entente offered Bulgaria the territory of Macedonia, which was transferred to Serbia following the 1913 war. The Serbs, having learned about the preparation of a large offensive operation by Austro-German troops, also became excited and agreed to all the sacrifices that Britain and France offered to make. However, the proposals, firstly, were late, and secondly, they were significantly less profitable than those made by the Central Powers. Therefore, the Bulgarian government responded, in order to delay time, that it would refer this issue to the consideration of the Bulgarian Tsar Ferdinand. Although an alliance with Germany had already been concluded, and the process of mobilizing the Bulgarian army was underway.
Belgrade asked in vain for permission to attack Bulgaria before it completed mobilization, but the French still hoped for the success of the negotiations and the Serbs were refused. As a result, Bulgaria calmly carried out its mobilization, continuing to assure the Entente of its neutrality. The Russians put an end to this stupid situation by sending an ultimatum to Sofia on October 3, 1915, demanding that German and Austrian officers be removed from the Bulgarian army within 24 hours and an end to the concentration of Bulgarian troops on the Serbian border. The result of this ultimatum was the issuance of their passports to the Russian, British and French representatives on October 4, 1915.
On October 14, Bulgaria declared war on Serbia. The Bulgarians had no complaints either against Russia, or against England and France, but, based on the principle of solidarity, they themselves declared war on Bulgaria in the following days. October 15 300 thousand The Bulgarian army crossed the border with Serbia along its entire length. The defeat of Serbia was a foregone conclusion - the country had been at war with the Austro-Hungarian Empire for more than a year and was exhausted by the war and blockade. In addition, a few days earlier, German units had already entered Belgrade. Greece and Romania maintained their neutrality.
Bulgarian cavalry in a captured Serbian city. October 22, 1915
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Rosen Plevneliev, President of Bulgaria (now there are new elections going on - he is one of the candidates) said in an interview with the German publication faz
"Facts indicate (What? A.Sh.) that today Russia is a nationalistically aggressive state. Putin sees Europe not as a partner, but as an enemy. Putin perceives the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union as a disaster. According to the Bulgarian President, Putin wants to live, like in the 19th century, when there were great powers and peripheral states subordinate to them"
By some inspiration from above, he believes that Russia is an aggressor country and dreams of capturing all of Europe, just as it “captured” Crimea. Where are the examples? The USSR was destroyed. Yes. What does Russian aggression have to do with it?
Does the President of Bulgaria know history? I doubt it. The Bulgarians liked to call us “brothers.” But this does not mean brothers. In the Bulgarian language, the word “brothers” has an ironic meaning, even a familiarly dismissive one. Over the past 100 years, Bulgaria has betrayed us many times. For this reason, our ancestors died on Shipka. if after that the “brother Bulgarians” fought against us in both world wars. In 1914, in an alliance with Austria-Hungary and Germany. In 1941, in alliance with Hitler. Now, Bulgaria is a member of NATO and the EU. And just “yesterday” - the stop of South Stream, as they say, is a blow to the “gut” of Russia
Remember how Dostoevsky talked about the Slavic brotherhood - “It will be especially pleasant for the liberated Slavs to express and trumpet to the whole world that they are educated tribes, capable of the highest European culture, while Russia is a barbaric country, a gloomy northern colossus, not even pure Slavic blood, persecutor and hater of European civilization" (the half-Jew, half-Georgian Akunin talks about pure blood in his new work, paid for by the West)
What a visionary our great classic is! A simple prophet! A similar thing is observed in Serbia. I mean their elite (not the people) Example? Please. When the Crimean War of 1853-56 began, Serbia took an openly anti-Russian position, completely siding with Austria. As a result, the Russian ambassador was urgently recalled from “brotherly” Belgrade ((And who helped the Serbs win autonomy from Turkey before that? Russia)
Well, Ukraine is the most recent example. (Bloody) Let me give you one quote: Director of the International Monetary Fund Christian Lagarde. She said on April 3, 2014 to the BBC. "The economy of Ukraine was approaching the abyss at full speed... Without Russian support. Without the helping hand that Russia extended to them, Ukraine would not have had a future..."
And this is said by a seemingly neutral person. Knowing. All the basics of economics. Mira.
How did Ukraine thank us?
She already wants gas so that we can give it to them for free. What about debts? THEY HAVE NO MONEY. They devoured and stole
And Putin is flirting with Ukraine. With Poroshenko. Well, the liberals are putting pressure. It's clear. But you still need to understand that there is patience. The people.
Our allies are the army. And the fleet. ALL !!! So it is with all the Great Countries of the World. Is not it so?