The history of Bulgaria. Wars at the beginning of the 20th century. Lesson ten.

Relations with the Ottoman Empire grew tense, and in 1912 the First Balkan War broke out, in which Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece and Montenegro, members of the so-called «Balkan League», defeated their former oppressors, the Ottomans.

As a result of the Balkan League’s victory in the war, Bulgaria received new lands. But Macedonia remained a disputed region, claimed not only by Bulgaria but also by Greece and Serbia. As a result, just a month after the end of the First Balkan War, the second one began. This time Bulgaria fought against its former allies, as well as Romania and the Ottoman Empire. Bulgaria lost this war. After the signing of the Treaty of Bucharest, the country lost most of the territory of Macedonia, as well as Southern

Dobruja — regions of Bulgaria adjoining Romania. Cities such as Silistra, Dobrich and Balchik ended up outside the Bulgarian state. The peace treaty did not help to resolve the problems of the Balkan Peninsula once and for all, and soon, with the outbreak of the First World War, hostilities resumed with renewed force.

The First World War and its outcome for Bulgaria

In the autumn of 1915 Bulgaria entered the First World War. By that point the state was already exhausted by the Balkan Wars, and there was barely enough money to feed the troops. Although the war began fairly successfully for Bulgaria — it managed, for example, to retake the fortress of Tutrakan and other towns of Dobruja — the economy could not withstand such a burden. Agriculture fell into decline, and industry was in no better condition. The soldiers began to mutiny. As a result, Bulgaria signed a peace agreement in 1918.

The peace treaty required Bulgaria to pay considerable sums to the victorious countries. But that was not the saddest part: the disappointing outcome of the wars showed that the dream of a country whose territory would reach three seas, as in the Middle Ages, had to be abandoned. This was a genuine national catastrophe. The country suffered enormous inflation, industry and even agriculture fell into decline for lack of workers, and Bulgaria faced the threat of famine.

«The Quiet Nest in Balchik

Tutrakan: the site of many battles.

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