Bombing of Sofia in World War II The Bulgarian capital of Sofia suffered a series of Allied bombing raid s during World War II , from late 1943 to early 1944 . Bulgaria declared a token war on the United Kingdom and the United States on 13 December 1941 . The Southern Italy - based Allied air forces extended the range of their strategic operations to include Bulgaria and other Axis allies in 1943 . Raids . April 1941 . During the invasions of Yugoslavia and of Greece , the Yugoslav and British air forces targeted strategic points in Bulgaria , from which German troops had staged the invasions . On 6 April , Yugoslav Dornier Do 17 aircraft bombed the industrial section of Sofia and Kyustendil . In Sofia 8 people were killed . In the bombing of Kyustendil 58 civilians , 2 Bulgarian and 8 German soldiers were killed and 59 civilians , 5 Bulgarian and 31 German soldiers were wounded . Between 20 : 05 and 21 : 40 on 6 April , the Royal Air Force ( RAF ) carried out bombing raids over Bulgaria . Bristol Blenheim aircraft bombed Petrich and Haskovo and six Vickers Wellington s dropped bombs over Sofia and nearby villages . During the bombing of the capital 18 people were killed and 28 were wounded ; 14 building were destroyed and 3 fires were started . Sofia was bombed a second time on 13 April , provoking a large exodus . 14 November 1943 . The air raid was carried out on 14 November 1943 by 91 B - 25 Mitchell bombers . 47 buildings and structures were destroyed , 59 civilians and military men were killed and over 128 were injured . 24 November 1943 . A new bombing followed on 24 November , this time executed by 60 B - 24 Liberator aircraft . 87 buildings in the vicinity of the Central Railway Station were destroyed with 5 people dying and 29 being wounded . 10 December 1943 . The 10 December raid was carried out by 120 aircraft . About 90 bombs were released over the Hadzhi Dimitar , Industrialen , Malashevtsi and Voenna rampa quarters , another 90 hit Vrazhdebna Airport and the nearby villages . 11 people were killed during the bombing . 20 December 1943 . One of the most destructive raids followed on 20 December the same year , with over 113 buildings being razed to the ground , the belt line being cut off , over 64 people being killed and another 93 injured . 30 December 1943 . A day bombing in the Sofia railway junction area was executed on 30 December 1943 , claiming 70 victims and injuring 96 . 10 January 1944 . Sofia suffered another bombing on 10 January 1944 , carried out consecutively by 143 American [ B - 17 ] s ( during the day ) and 44 RAF Wellingtons ( during the night ) . 448 buildings were destroyed . 947 people were killed and 611 were wounded . 16 March 1944 . During the night 50 British bombers attacked Sofia . 43 people were killed , 58 wounded and 72 buildings were destroyed . 24 March 1944 . During the night about 40 British bombers attacked Sofia . There were no casualties . 29 March 1944 . During the night about 50 British bombers attacked Sofia . There were no casualties . 30 March 1944 . The most severe bombing of Sofia ever occurred on March 30 , 1944 . Some 370 American heavy bombers flew ovver Sofia destroying 3575 buildings . Over 3000 high explosive bombs and 30000 incendiary bombs were used . There were 139 people killed . The casualty figures were relatively modest due to preliminary evacuation of the civilians . The targets of the bombing were neither military installations , nor armed forces , but historical downtown Sofia . 17 April 1944 . This bombing is known as " the black Easter " ( the second day of Easter ) for the citizens of Sofia . The raid was carried out by 350 bombers ( B - 17 and B - 24 ) with an escort of 100 fighter planes – Mustangs and Lightnings . About 2500 bombs were dropped over the target – railroad marshaling yards . 749 buildings were totally destroyed . Casualties were 128 people killed and 69 wounded . Consequences . The bombing raids in 1943 – 1944 resulted in the death of 1 , 374 , with an additional 1 , 743 being injured . 12 , 564 buildings were damaged ( of which 2 , 670 completely destroyed ) . 60 motor cars and 55 trailers were also destroyed . The Allies lost a total of 117 aircraft . Among the historic buildings were several schools and hotels , as well as the State Printing House , the Regional Court , the Small Baths and the National Library . These were not restored to their original appearance . The Bulgarian National Theatre , the Bulgarian Agricultural Bank , the Theological Faculty of Sofia University , the Museum of Natural History , the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and other buildings were damaged but subsequently reconstructed . Captain Gerhard Wengel ( 1915 – 1944 ) was a German Luftwaffe pilot who was killed in the sky over Radomir , while defending Sofia , Bulgaria from a bombing raid . He was the only foreign pilot , killed in battle , while defending Bulgarian airspace during World War II . He was part of the Jagdgeschwader 5 " Eismeer " fighter wing .