page_title: Bulgaria–United States relations
section_title: Second World War
hierarchical_section_title: Bulgaria–United States relations / Second World War
caption_attribution_description: Boris III de Bulgarie en compagnie d'Hitler
context_page_description: Bulgarian-American relations, first formally established in 1903, have moved from missionary activity and American support for Bulgarian independence in the late 19th century to the growth of trade and commerce in the early 20th century, to reluctant hostility during World War I and open war and bombardment in World War II, to ideological confrontation during the Cold War, to partnership with the United States in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and growing political, military and economic ties in the beginning of the 21st century.
  According to the 2012 U.S. Global Leadership Report, 32% of Bulgarians approve of U.S. leadership, with 16% disapproving and 52% uncertain.
context_section_description: When World War II began in September 1939, both Bulgaria and the United States were neutral.  As in World War I, Bulgaria looked for an ally that would help it regain lands it claimed in Yugoslavia, Romania and Greece. In September 1940, Bulgaria succeeded in negotiating, with the help of Germany, the return of Southern Dobruzha from Romania.
caption: King Boris and Adolf Hitler, 1943
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