WWII

Bulgaria
Created by Pavlin Pavlov and
Radoslav Ivanov, 8b
 Second world war

The second World War was a

global conflict that lasted from
1939 to 1945. Most of the world's
countries, including the great
powers, fought as part of two
opposing military alliances: the
Allies and the Axis. Tens of
millions died due to genocides,
starvation, massacres, and disease.
 Bulgaria during the Second world war
The history of Bulgaria during World War II
contains a period of neutrality until 1 March 1941,
a period of alliance with the Axis Powers until 8
September 1944, and a period of alignment with
the Allies in the final year of the war. Bulgarian
military forces occupied with German consent
parts of the kingdoms of Greece and Yugoslavia.
Bulgaria resisted Axis pressure to join the war
against the Soviet Union, which began on 22 June
1941 but did declare war on Britain and the United
States on 13 December 1941. The Red Army
entered Bulgaria on 8 September 1944; Bulgaria Bulgaria during World War II
declared war on Germany the next day.
Initial neutrality (September 1939 – 1 March 1941)
The government of the Kingdom of Bulgaria
declared a position of neutrality upon the outbreak
of World War II. Bulgaria decided to observe it
until the end of the war. But it hoped for bloodless
territorial gains to recover the territories lost in the
Second Balkan War and World War I, as well as
gain other lands with a significant Bulgarian
population in the neighbouring countries. However,
it was clear that the central geopolitical position of
Bulgaria in the Balkans would inevitably lead to
strong external pressure from both World War II
factions. This recovery of territory reinforced Bulgarian invasion of southern Yugoslavia
Bulgarian hopes for resolving other territorial
problems without direct involvement in the War.
 Axis Powers (March 1941 –September 1944)
After the failure of the Italian invasion of
Greece, Nazi Germany demanded that Bulgaria
join the Tripartite Pact and permit German forces
to pass through Bulgaria to attack Greece to help
Italy. The Bulgarian prime minister signed the
pact on 1 March 1941. German forces crossed the
Danube into Bulgaria the same day. With the
Soviet Union in a non-aggression pact with
Germany, there was little popular opposition to
the decision, and it was recognized with applause
in the Parliament a couple of days later. Adolf Hitler receives King Boris III of
Bulgaria at his headquarters following the
collapse of Yugoslavia
 Consequences and results
As a consequence of World War II, the
Soviet Union invaded Bulgaria and a
Communist regime was installed in 1946
with Georgi Dimitrov at the helm. The
monarchy was abolished in 1946 and the
tsar sent into exile. The People's Republic of
Bulgaria was established, lasting until 1990.
The Red Army remained in occupation of
Bulgaria until 1947. Bulgaria later joined
the Warsaw Pact in 1954 and 1968 Warsaw
Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. The people of Sofia welcoming the First Bulgarian
Army on the 17th of June in 1945 after its return
from Austria at the end of hostilities in Europe.
Thank you for
your attention!
CREDITS: This presentation template was created by Slidesgo,
including icons by Flaticon, and infographics & images by Freepik