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Treaty of Craiova
The Treaty of Craiova was signed on 7 Semptember 1940 between the Kingdom of Bulgaria and the Kingdom of Romania. Under the terms of the treaty, Romania returned the southern part of Dobruja to Bulgaria and agreed to participate in organizing a population exchange. The treaty was approved by the Great Powers, into the bargain -
Bulgaria joins the Axis Powers
After the failure of the Italian invasion of Greece, Nazi Germany demanded that Bulgaria joins the Tripartite pact and permit German forces to pass through Bulgaria to attack Greece in order to help Italy. While the Bulgarian government was reluctant to get involved in the war, the threat of a German invasion, as well as the promise of Greek territories, led Bulgaria to sign the Tripartite Pact on 1 March 1941 and join the Axis. -
Occupation of Yugoslavia
Bulgarian Land Forces enter Yugoslavia. -
Occupation of Greece
Bulgarian Land Forces enter Greece. -
Drama Uprising
In the Greek territories, the Bulgarian government pursued a policy of Bulgarisation, leading to an exodus of the Greek population, especially after the brutal suppression of the Drama Uprising in September 1941. -
Bombing of Sofia
The Bulgarian government was forced by Germany to declare a token war on the United Kingdom and the United States on 13 December 1941, an act which resulted in the bombing of Sofia and other Bulgarian cities by Allied aircrafts. -
No "Final Solution" in Bulgaria
On May 24, 1943, the traditional parade in the streets of Sofia to celebrate the National Holiday of Slavic Letters and Culture ("Cyril and Methodius' Day") turned into a demonstration against the government's evacuation and internment orders, which were forcing 20,000 Jews to abandon their homes in the capital. This event was one of the main reasons why the Bulgarian government didn't deport it's Jews thus making Bulgaria the only country saving its entire Jewish population. -
The King's Death
On August 28, 1943, shortly after returning from one of his visits with Hitler, Boris suddenly died of a mysterious heart attack. It's believed that Boris 3 was poisoned by the SS because of his denial to send the Bulgarian Jews to concentration camps. -
Bulgaria changes sides
On 5 September, the Soviet Union declared war on Bulgaria and three days later the Soviets crossed the border and occupied the north-eastern part of Bulgaria The Bulgarian Army did not offer resistance by an order of the government. On 8 September, the Bulgarians changed sides and joined the Soviet Union in its war against Nazi Germany. -
Paris Peace Treaties
Bulgaria was restored to the borders of 1 January 1941, returning Vardar Macedonia to Yugoslavia and Eastern Macedonia and Western Thrace to Greece, but keeping Southern Dobruja per the Treaty of Craiova, leaving Bulgaria as the only former Axis power to keep territory that was gained during the Second World War.
