215 The Peasant and the Tsar
top of page
Season 9: The National Catastrophes
After decades spent preparing, Bulgaria finally attempts to achieve its national ambitions.
With the collapse of the Macedonian front and revolution in the air, Tsar Ferdinand is forced to turn to his greatest opponent for...
Eric D. Halsey
- Aug 3
- 1 min
214 Breakthrough
Some of the best fortifications in the world are manned by soldiers low on food, clothing, and supplies. So what happens when they meet...
86 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Jul 16
- 2 min
213 The Spoils
The Central Powers are victorious in the east! Now it's time to divvy up the spoils... Major Characters in this Episode: Prime Minister...
68 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Jul 13
- 1 min
212 Eastern Victories?
With the collapse of the Provisional government and the onset of the Russian Civil War, the Central Powers have finally achieved victory...
85 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Jun 30
- 2 min
211 The Balkan Verdun
As the winter of 1916-17 comes to a close, the First World War enters a new phase as one major power enter and another moves towards the...
91 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Jun 25
- 2 min
210 The Romanian Collapse
Just months after joining the war with high hopes of taking Transylvania from Austria-Hungary, Romania is now on the back foot and facing...
64 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- May 30
- 2 min
209 War on Two Fronts
Once again, Bulgaria faces fighting on multiple frontlines, with Entente forces attempting to put more pressure on them. This has...
110 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- May 28
- 2 min
208 The End of the Balkan Stalemate
As the war drags on, the Bulgarian government tightens its grip on power. Meanwhile, the Macedonian front becomes active again as the...
67 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Apr 29
- 2 min
207 Occupation
As 1915 comes to an end, Bulgaria suddenly finds a war it entered mere months ago entering a new phase. With the Salonika front settling...
111 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Apr 20
- 2 min
206 A Dream Realized?
Bulgaria finally enters the First World War, joining Germany and Austria-Hungary in a massive offensive against Serbia. But while some...
111 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Mar 29
- 2 min
205 The Die Is Cast
As Summer 1915 turns to Fall, Bulgaria makes it choice to join the Central Powers and attack Serbia. But in the final weeks before that...
302 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Mar 25
- 2 min
204 The Bulgarian Summer
As the Great War drags on, Bulgarian participation becomes ever more valuable. Now, as the Spring of 1915 turns to summer both the...
157 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Feb 26
- 2 min
203 Settling Into Stalemate
As the First World War moves past the optimistic summer of 1914 it quickly becomes clear to everyone that the war will not end anytime...
207 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Feb 23
- 3 min
202 The Great War Begins
As Romania and Serbia crack down on the Bulgarian populations of their newly acquired territories, Bulgaria's Prime Minister attempts to...
116 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Jan 29
- 2 min
201 Resistance and Acceptance
As the fighting of the Second Balkan Wars ends, Bulgaria searches for a path forward and hundreds of thousands of people in the region...
149 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Jan 10
- 1 min
200 The Balkan Wars in Retrospect
After the conclusion of what is rightfully called the "first national catastrophe" it's worth looking back at the scale, scope, and...
141 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Dec 30, 2023
- 3 min
199 The First National Catastrophe
The die is cast as Bulgaria embarks on a surprise attack against Serbia and Greece to gain the territories it feels it has earned. Major...
142 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Dec 28, 2023
- 2 min
198 One Against All
With the end of the First Balkan War, Bulgaria faces a difficult choice. Its army is on the brink of revolt, its neighbors are...
369 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Nov 30, 2023
- 2 min
197 The Beginning of the End or the End of the Beginning?
Just as Bulgaria achieves what one author terms its first diplomatic success of the war, the country is losing another kind of war. Major...
103 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Nov 27, 2023
- 2 min
196 The Fortresses Fall
As the First Balkan War enters its final stages, the final 3 Ottoman fortresses are each forced to surrender. But even before the guns...
95 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Oct 31, 2023
- 1 min
195 The War Resumes
Mere hours after peace is agreed to, a coup tears up the treaty and brings the war back into an active phase. As a result, Bulgaria faces...
160 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Oct 24, 2023
- 2 min
194 The Chataldzha Armistice
With the failure of Bulgaria's assault on the Chataldzha line, the pace of the war has declined and the Tsar accepted that an armistice...
144 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Sep 30, 2023
- 1 min
193 A Wave Against the Rocks
As the Greeks and Serbs complete the defeat of most Ottoman forces in the rest of the Balkans, the Bulgarians finally begin the attack on...
139 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Sep 27, 2023
- 1 min
192 The Great Race
After two weeks of great victories, the Balkan states try and press their advantage. But above all, the great race is for the city of...
135 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Aug 30, 2023
- 1 min
191 Lost Victories
As the Bulgarians, Serbs, and Greeks each win huge victories on the battlefield, can they capitalize on their success or will they be...
202 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Aug 29, 2023
- 1 min
190 The Early Stages of The First Balkan War
The war, decades in the making, to expel the Ottoman Empire from Europe has begun. In this episode, we look at the armies and societies...
193 views0 comments
bottom of page