The Kingdom of Bulgaria has originally joined the Axis to gain territory and be protected from the USSR. As well Bulgaria wanted to fend off communists in the country, who had influence in the army. Despite this Bulgaria did not participate in the war very much, not joining in either Operation Barbarosa and refusing to send its Jewish Population to concentration camps. However, in 1943 Tsar Boris III died, and the Axis were starting to lose on the Eastern Front. The Bulgarian government negotiated with the allies and withdrew from the war in August 1944. Despite this they refused to expel the German troops still stationed in the country. The Soviet Union responded by invading the country in September 1944, which coincided with the 1944 coup by communists. The coup saw the communist Fatherland Front take power. The new government abolished the monarchy and executed former officials of the government including 1,000 to 3,000 dissidents, war criminals, and monarchists in the People's Court, as well as exilling Tsar Simeon II. Following a referendum in 1946 the People's Republic of Bulgaria was set up under the leadership of Georgi Dimitrov.