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Writer's pictureEric D. Halsey

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 door under the grip of revolution. But for Bulgaria the struggle is to hold on as a powerful series of attacks in Macedonia put its defenses to the test.



Major Characters in this Episode:

Tsar Ferdinand

King Constantine

King Alexander

Prime Minister Venizelos

Tsar Nicholas II

Alexander Protopopov

Alexander Kerensky

Vladimir Lenin


Timeline for this episode:

  • 1917, Mar 15th - Tsar Nicholas II abdicates, leading to the formation of a provisional government.

  • 1917, Mar 16th - Lenin arrives in Russia from exile in Switzerland.

  • 1917, Apr 6th - The United States enters the war by declaring war on Germany.

  • 1917, Apr 22nd - May 9th - The Second Battle of Dorian.

  • 1917, May 3-4th - The Russian provisional government affirms its commitment to the Entente, triggering mass demonstrations.

  • 1917, May 5-9th - The Second Battle of the Crna Bend.

  • 1917, May 15th - A Serbian military unit led by Kosta Jovanovic sets fire to Bosilegrad, killing 32.

  • 1917, May 29th - The Russian Consul in Thessaloniki frees 4 Bulgarian prisoners of war and sends written proposals from the Russian Provisional Government to Alexander Malinov, Stoyan Danev, and Ivan Gueshoff for Bulgaria to exit the war.

  • 1917, June 12th - King Constantine of Greece abdicates.

  • 1917, June 26th - Greece declares war on Bulgaria.

  • 1917, July 1-19th - Russia undertakes the Kerensky Offensive.

  • 1917, July 16-17th - Unrest in Petrograd.


Sources used in this episode:

История на България в Дати by Vasil Katsunov, Plamen Mitev, Valeri Kolev, Evgenia Kalinova, and Iskra Baeva

The Gardeners of Salonika by Alan Palmer

Balkan Breakthrough by Richard C. Hall



A depiction of the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II
A depiction of the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II

President Wilson speaking to Congress on the breaking of relations with Germany
President Wilson speaking to Congress on the breaking of relations with Germany

A map of the Macedonian front
A map of the Macedonian front

A Bulgarian observation post at Doiran.
A Bulgarian observation post at Doiran.

A Bulgarian solider firing while wearing a gas mask
A Bulgarian solider firing while wearing a gas mask

Alexander, the new King of Greece
Alexander, the new King of Greece

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