World War II Kingdom of Bulgaria

faced invasion, bulgaria drifted world war ii under filov s government. on 7 september 1940, bulgaria bribed return of southern dobruja kingdom of romania. done on orders of german dictator adolf hitler , implemented treaty of craiova.

bulgaria during world war ii

on 1 march 1941, bulgaria formally signed tripartite pact, becoming ally of nazi germany, empire of japan, , kingdom of italy. german troops entered country in preparation german invasions of kingdom of greece , kingdom of yugoslavia. when yugoslavia , greece defeated, bulgaria allowed occupy of greek thrace , of macedonia. bulgaria declared war on britain , united states, resisted german pressure declare war on soviet union, fearful of pro-russian sentiment in country.

in august 1943 tsar boris died after returning germany (possibly assassinated, although has never been proved) , succeeded six-year-old son simeon ii. power held council of regents headed young tsar s uncle, prince kirill. new prime minister, dobri bozhilov, in respects german puppet.

resistance germans , bulgarian regime widespread 1943, co-ordinated communists. agrarians, led nikola petkov, social democrats , many army officers founded fatherland front. partisans operated in mountainous west , south. 1944 obvious germany losing war , regime began way out. bozhilov resigned in may, , successor ivan ivanov bagryanov tried arrange negotiations western allies.

meanwhile, capital sofia bombed allied aircraft in late 1943 , 1944, raids on other major cities following later. soviet army rapidly advancing towards bulgaria. in august bulgaria unilaterally announced withdrawal war , asked german troops leave: bulgarian troops hastily withdrawn greece , yugoslavia. in september soviets crossed northern border. government, desperate avoid soviet occupation, declared war on germany, soviets not put off, , on september 8 declared war on bulgaria – found few days @ war both germany , soviet union. on september 16, soviet army entered sofia.