With the end of the First Balkan War, Bulgaria faces a difficult choice. Its army is on the brink of revolt, its neighbors are threatening war, and an uprising in Macedonia is poised to begin any moment. With Macedonia largely under Serbian and Greek control, what is Bulgaria to do?

Major Characters in this Episode:

PM Danev

James Bouchier

Tsar Ferdinand

Tsar Nicholas II

General Savov

General Dimitriev

Timeline for this episode:

• 1913, May 23-28 - Mutiny breaks out in five Bulgarian regiments fueled by anti-war activities by the Narrow Socialists and Agrarians.

• 1913, May 30th - Serbia ends rail connections with Bulgaria.

• 1913, May 31st - Serbia and Greece insist that Russia should arbitrate all conquered territory from the First Balkan War while Bulgaria insists that arbitration should stick to the agreed upon treaties and only cover the contested areas.

• 1913, June 1st - An earthquake strikes northern Bulgaria, leading to severe damage in Gorna Oryahovitsa, Veliko Tarnovo, and Lyaskovets.

• 1913, June 5-13th - Fighting breaks out between Bulgarian and Serbian forces near the Zletovska River.

• 1913, June 9th - A ministerial council is held in Sofia during which General Savov makes it clear that the army cannot retain discipline for more than 10 days and that he is confident Bulgaria can defeat Greece and Serbia.

• 1913, June 15th - The Tikveš uprising begins in macedonia, organized by VMRO and with the knowledge and support of the Bulgarian army.

• 1913, June 16th - The Second Balkan War, AKA the Inter-Allied War, begins.

Sources used in this episode:

• Peasants in Power: Alexander Stamboliiski and the Bulgarian Agrarian National Union, 1899-1923 by John D. Bell

• For Freedom and Perfection: The Life of Yané Sandansky by Mercia MacDermott

• Válka na Balkáně by Emanuel Škatula

• The Balkans by Misha Glenny

• The Balkan Wars 1912-1913: Prelude to the First World War by Richard C. Hall

• Prelude to the First World War: The Balkan Wars 1912-1913 by E.R. Hooton

• The Wars of Yesterday: The Balkan Wars and the Emergence of Modern Military Conflict, 1912-1913 Edited by Katrin Boeskh and Sabine Rutar

• The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914 by Christopher Clark

• The Rough Road to Statecraft: The Life of Bulgaria’s Ivan E. Gueshoff by Elena Statelova

• Foxy Ferdinand: Tsar of Bulgaria by Stephen Constant