In Bulgaria and throughout the Balkans it seems that political experiments are coming to an end. Democracy is ending in Yugoslavia, Agrarianism is being steadily killed off, and moderates are under pressure from all sides. As the 1920s and season 10 come to a close, the Lyapchev government faces its toughest challenges yet.

Major Characters in this Episode:

Prime Minister Andrey Lyapchev

Tsar Boris III

Alexander Protogerov

Ivan Mihailov

King Aleksander of Yugoslavia

Stjepan Radić

Ante Pavelić

Timeline for this episode:

• 1928, Jun 20th - Croatian Agrarian leader Stjepan Radić is assassinated.

• 1928, Jul 7th - Alexander Protogerov is killed on the orders of Ivan Mihailov. Some within the right faction of the VMRO declare themselves against the murder while the National Committee of Brotherhoods and Ilinden organization declare neutrality.

• 1928, Jul 13th - The head of Serbian public security is shot and killed at his office in Belgrade by VMRO activist Ivan Momchilov who subsequently commits suicide.

• 1928, Jul 21-25th - The VMRO holds its seventh congress Ivan Mihailov defends the murder of Protogerov and the overseas representatives of the party declare the congress unconstitutional. The congress decides to shift from Chetnik activity to acts of terrorism.

• 1928, Jul 25th - A battle breaks out between a detachment of men loyal to the overseas representatives of the VMRO and those loyal to Ivan Mihailov near Bansko. In early August, another clash occurs. Mihailov’s men win both encounters.

• 1928, Aug 7, 11, and 30th - Britain and France block attempts by Bulgaria to purchase Danish machine guns to prevent VMRO detachments from entering Vardar Macedonia.

• 1928, Aug 27th - Bulgaria signs the Kellog-Briant Pact outlawing aggressive war.

• 1928, Sep 8th - The League of Nations authorizes an additional 5 million GPB loan to aid Bulgaria in the aftermath of the Chripan Earthquake.

• 1928, Sep 12th - Lyapchev appoints a new government.

• 1928, Oct 12th - The Bulgarians of Dobrudja submit a protest statement to the chairman of the League of Nations regarding atrocities committed by Romanian authorities there.

• 1928, Nov - The League of Nations loan to aid Bulgaria in the aftermath of the Chirpan Earthquake is received.

• 1928, The fascist Bulgarian Homeland Defense Union reaches the peak of its influence with around 30,000 members.

• 1928, Bulgaria returns to the gold standard.

• 1929, Jan 6th - King Alexander Karadjordjevic launches a coup against the government in Belgrade and establishes a royal dictatorship.

• 1929, Feb 9th - The Litvinov Pact sees the USSR lead nearby states to immediately implement the anti-war Kellog-Briand Pact.

• 1929, Feb 25-29th - The Pirot Conference is held between Bulgaria and Yugoslavia over border securities. Another conference will be held in September with a final one concluding in December.

• 1929, Mar 5th - The president of the League of Nations Council is presented with a protest statement from Macedonian, Dobrudjan, Thracian, and Albanian organizations about violence against minorities in the Balkans

• 1929, Mar 6th - Bulgaria and Turkey sign a treaty of neutrality, reconciliation, judicial settlements, and arbitration.

• 1928, Apr 29th - Croatian politician in exile Ante Pavelić arrives in Sofia where he meets with Ivan Mihailov and the VMRO to agree on joint action against the Yugoslav government. Yugoslavia officially protests the visit.

• 1929, Jul 27th - The Geneva Convention is signed.

• 1929, Oct 3rd - The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes officially changes its name to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

• 1929, Oct 24-29th - The Wall Street Crash triggers the Great Depression.

Sources used in this episode:

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

• The Balkans by Misha Glenny

• History of the Balkans: Twentieth Century by Barbara Jelavich

• Crown of Thorns by Stephane Groueff

• Alexander Stamboliiski by R.J. Crampton

• A Concise History of Bulgaria by R.J. Crampton