People's Republic of Bulgaria

Flag of The People's Republic of Bulgaria

The People's Republic of Bulgaria is a nation in the South-East Balkans bordered by 5 countries.The Hellenic Democratic Republic and Turkey to the South,The People's Socialist Republic of Albania and Socialist Republic of Serbia to the West and The Socialist Republic of Romania to the North.Bulgaria is closely allied to the Soviet Union,sometimes baring the nickname "The 16th Republic".It was formed after a coup by pro-soviet guerrillas in 1944 after they declared neutrality. Bulgaria was turned into a industrialized socialist society in the 1960's,replacing their earlier agrarian peasant society.After the death of Stalin in 1953 a period of social liberalization and stability followed under Todor Zhivkov.In the 1960's manufacturing became the dominant sector of economy.It earned the nickname "The Silicon Valley of the Eastern Bloc"

## History

Bulgaria joined the Axis Powers on the 1st of March 1941,due to the failed invasion of Greece by the Italians,the Germans needed to come provide aid.They had no land to pass goods through though,Yugoslavia and Bulgaria weren't apart of the Axis.The Germans came to both to ask to join,or invasion.Bulgaria agreed as did Yugoslavia but 6 days later they left.This would lead to the April War between the two in which Bulgaria joined.Yugoslavia quickly fell as did Greece with the help of the Bulgarians.Bulgaria was given Thrace and Macedonia after these two victories to which they sent thousands of citizens to Bulgarise the land.

### Communist Coup

In 1944 the war wasn't going so well for the Axis.Romania had fallen and due to this,The Kingdom of Bulgaria left and declared neutrality.On the 5th of September though,The Soviet Union declared war on Bulgaria and entered from Romania.They demanded the government(Bulgaria had a government due to Simeon ii's young age)fall to minimise casualties on both sides.When they denied,On the 9th of September Communist Guerrillas launched a coup d'état which ended the Bulgarian monarchy under Simeon II.The so called Fatherland Front took power which was under the control of the Bulgarian Communist Party (Българска комунистическа партия).

### Early years

After taking power,The Fatherland Front formed a coalition between themselves,Social Democrats and the Agrarians.Under their terms,Bulgaria would keep Dobruja but would have to pull out of Thrace and Macedonia (after the consitution they left Dobruja aswell).150,000 Bulgarians had to leave Thrace at this time.A People's Militia was set up to harass anti-communist parties.The Government at this time was under former Prime Minister Kimon Georgiev.

In February 1945,several thousand officials were arrested and executed around the country for collaborating with Nazi Germany.After the return of Armed Forces,the Officer Corps was purged and destroyed.Over 10,000 people were killed during the early years of communism in Bulgaria as part of agricultural collectivisation and political repression.Forced labour camps were also set up including Belene labour camp which would be the place for a riot in August.

In November Communist Party leader Georgi Dimitrov returned to Bulgaria after 22 years in exile.After a speech he made,elections were held with an outstanding victory for the Fatherland Front.After this victory,in 1946 the people voted 95% in favour of a republic and so Simeon was sent into exile and The Bulgarian People's Republic was declared with Vasil Kolarov as President and Georgi Dimitrov as Prime Minister.

The Agrarians refused to co-operate with the authorities, and in June 1947 their leader Nikola Petkov was arrested and killed in secret by the secret police.In 1947 the "Dimitrov Constitution" was signed which was very similar to the Soviet 1936 Constitution.Anti-communist parties were dissolved as the Social Democrats merged with the Communists and Agrarians became a loyal partner of the regime.After this take over of power,Religion was heavily persecuted.During 1948-1949 Orthodox, Muslim, Protestant and Roman Catholic religious organisations were restrained or banned.The remaining Orthodox Church of Bulgaria lost alot of followers and has since never recovered after the loss of the monarchy.

In 1949 aswell Dimitrov died and it was time for Bulgaria to be run by someone new.This someone was Vulko Chervenkov and former president Vasil Kolarov as prime minister.This union of the men broke down a year later though,as Kolarov died and Chervenkov appointed many prime ministers.Chervenkov started a process of rapid industrialization modeled after the Soviet industrialisation led by Stalin in the 1930s and agriculture was collectivised.

Stalin's death in 1953 had political repercussions in Bulgaria.In 1954 Chervenkov stepped down as president to become prime minister with Todor Zhivkov taking power as president.The government let many prisoners go as this change occured.Chervenkov stayed as prime minister until 1956 when he was dismissed and replaced by Anton Yugov.

### Dobruja Take-over

Bulgaria negotiates with Romania to acquire both North and South Dobruja.Romania is forced to agree due to pressure from the Soviet Union,even if they don't want to as it would completely block them off from the Black sea,It doesn't matter though as both of the lands get annexed by Bulgaria.Once the agreement is reached, Bulgarian forces move into North and South Dobruja to establish control.Resistance from local Romanian forces and nationalist elements is minimum.

### Bulgarian Intervention in Yugoslavia

In 1953,Yugoslavia broke up,4 states emerged.Slovenia,Croatia,Serbia and North Macedonia.Soon after Slovenia got annexed by Croatia and Macedonia by Serbia.The two declared war on eachother with most of the Warsaw Pact supporting Serbia.This was not the case for Bulgaria though and on the 2nd of February.The Third Balkan War begun with the Bulgarian invasion of North Macedonia.The area had been claimed by Bulgaria for hundreds of years and they had occupied it during World War II,now it was time for their revenge on Serbia for the Second Balkan War. Bulgarian forces mobilized and launched a surprise offensive into North Macedonia on the 3rd, aiming to quickly seize key strategic positions and gain control over the region.Which is what they did.They defeated the Serbs in Kumanovo and several other key cities on their way to Skopje.They fought the Serbs in Skopje but mass numbers of Bulgarian troops captured the city on the 21st.North Macedonia had fallen to Bulgaria and it was now under their occupation until the end of the war in 1957.After this Bulgaria annexed the land and sent thousands of ethnic Bulgars to repopulate some areas.But in response to the Bulgarian occupation, local resistance groups, supported by Serbian elements and sympathetic populations, form partisan units to challenge Bulgarian control.Bulgaria hangs on to North Macedonia where it is today with minimal battles against the partisans.

### Invasion of Thrace

The Bulgarian communist leadership, in response to the call for assistance from the Greek communist forces, decides to launch an invasion of Thrace in October. Their objective is to support the communist cause in Greece, expand Bulgarian influence, and potentially acquire territorial gains as they had occupied it during World War II just like Macedonia,but unlike Macedonia they had sent 150,000 men and women to expand Bulgarian ethnicity there.Bulgarian military forces are mobilized and concentrated along the border with Greece. Troops, artillery, and armored units are deployed to launch a coordinated offensive into Thrace. Bulgarian forces initiate their offensive by launching a multi-pronged attack across the Greek-Bulgarian border into Thrace on the 4th of October. The invasion involves both conventional military operations and partisan activity by local communist sympathizers and guerilla units.Alexandroupolis, a major city located in eastern Thrace, becomes a focal point of the invasion.This battle was fierce due to the Ground,Armoured,Air and Naval combat that occured,but Bulgarian and Communist forces did capture the city on the 19th of November 1955.As Bulgarian forces push deeper into Thrace, they encounter resistance from Greek government forces and local anti-communist militias. In 1956 the Communists win the civil war and Bulgaria takes over Thrace for themselves but are not allowed via the Soviet Union to station any troops there.

### Anti-Turkish Plot

In 1971,The Soviet Union urged Bulgaria to start a conflict between Greece and Turkey,they were meant to do this by setting fire to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and make it look like the work of Turks.The plan was meant to go ahead as it got a green light from the Bulgarian and Soviet governments but it did not go through as it was abandoned.

### Latest Events

In 1971 the new "Zhivkovskata" Constitution was created and it stated that PA "leading force of society and the state".Zhivkov was promoted to Head of State (Chairman of the State Council) and Stanko Todorov became prime minister.

In 1978,dissident writer Georgi Markov was accosted on a London street by a stranger who rammed his leg with the tip of an umbrella containing lethal chemicals inside.Markov died shortly after and it was later confirmed it was work of the Bulgarian Secret Police and KGB.

The Bulgarian People's Army sided with the Soviet Union and the Afghan communists during the Soviet–Afghan War in Afghanistan fighting the jihadist guerrillas from 1982 until today.

## Economic Transformation

Under communist rule, Bulgaria's economy underwent a radical transformation. The government nationalized major industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, and energy sectors. Private property was abolished, and all means of production were placed under state control. The central planning system prioritized heavy industry and agricultural collectivization, aiming to build a self-sufficient socialist economy.

## Industrialization and Urbanization

The communist government invested heavily in industrialization, focusing on heavy industries such as steel, machinery, and chemicals. New factories were built, and existing ones were modernized to increase production. Urban areas expanded rapidly, with the creation of new industrial centers and the migration of people from rural areas to cities in search of employment opportunities.

## Agricultural Collectivization

To achieve agricultural self-sufficiency, the Bulgarian government implemented a policy of collectivization in the countryside. Private farms were confiscated, and farmers were organized into collective farms, known as "kolkhozes." Agricultural production was geared towards meeting the needs of the state, and peasants were expected to contribute their labor to achieve production targets set by the government.

## Social Policies and Welfare

The communist government implemented various social policies aimed at improving the welfare of the population. Universal healthcare and education were provided to all citizens, and efforts were made to eradicate illiteracy. Housing projects were initiated to address the housing shortage, particularly in urban areas. The state also promoted gender equality and women's rights, encouraging their participation in the workforce.

## Foreign Policy and International Relations

Bulgaria's communist government aligned itself closely with the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries. The country became a member of the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance led by the Soviet Union. Bulgaria supported various communist and socialist movements around the world and provided assistance to liberation struggles in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The government actively promoted the idea of international solidarity among socialist states.

## Political Control and Suppression

Under communist rule, Bulgaria witnessed a tight grip on political power by the Bulgarian Communist Party. Opposition parties were banned, and dissent was met with repression and censorship. The secret police, known as the State Security, monitored and suppressed any perceived threats to the regime. The government tightly controlled media and propaganda to maintain its ideological dominance.