As fascist revisionist powers make bold moves on the European stage and upset the post-war status quo, Tsar Boris' non-party government faces its first real test.

Major Characters in this Episode:

Tsar Boris III

Andrey Toshev

Damyan Velchev

Hermann Gorring

Georgi Kiosseivanov

Timeline for this episode:

• 1936, Mar 7th - The Rhineland is remilitarized, marking a direct challenge to the Versailles treaty.

• 1936, Mar 23-24th - The Macedonian Students’ Union is founded in the Borisova Garden in Sofia.

• 1936, May 7-9th - Italy annexes Ethiopia before Mussolini announces the foundation of the Italian Empire.

• 1936, May 24th- The Committee of Five is formed (AKA the Petorka) as a secret and informal grouping of banned political parties. On May 29th they deliver their memorandum to the Tsar.

• 1936, Jun 6th - An ordinance-law is passed prohibiting the creation of political organizations in the army and of political activities for officers.

• 1936, Jun 15-17th - The German Minister of Economic Affairs visits Sofia. An agreement is concluded for military supplies from Germany worth 12.5 million Marks.

• 1936, Jul 4th - Prime Minister Kyoseivanov forms a new cabinet.

• 1936, Jul 17th - The Spanish civil war breaks out.

• 1936 Jul 25th - The Pladne group of Agrarians creates a united opposition group consisting of all Agrarian groups except the Vrabcha one and declares itself as defenders of parliamentarianism.

• 1936, Jul 26th - An illegal conference is held in Sofia attended by activists from the Democratic Conspiracy who subsequently declare their support for the restoration of constitutional government.

• 1936, Summer - The Ministry of the Interior surveys the population to determine their real political leanings.

• 1936, Aug 2nd - An illegal meeting is held by members of the Democratic Party who subsequently declare their support for the restoration of constitutional government.

• 1936, Aug 4th - Ioannis Metaxas implements an authoritarian regime in Greece.

• 1936, Aug 23rd - An illegal meeting is held by members of the Vrabcha Agrarian party who subsequently declare their support for the restoration of constitutional government.

• 1936, Aug 25th - An illegal meeting is held by members of the Vitosha Anarchist Movement discussing the idea of uniting all anarchists in the country.

• 1936, Aug 27th - A new ordinance-law is passed which begins to remove protectionist policies in certain industries.

• 1936, Aug 28th - An illegal meeting is held by members of the National Liberal party who subsequently declare their support for the restoration of constitutional government.

• 1936, Sep 5th - An Ordinance-law is passed around collective labor agreements and labor conflicts.

• 1936, Oct 25th - Hitler and Mussolini announce the creation of the Rome-Berlin Axis.

• 1936, Nov 25th - Germany and Japan sign the Anti-Comintern Pact.

• 1936, Dec 4th - The “Five” agree on joint action, electing an action committee which presents a “national request to the Tsar of the Bulgarians” to restore the constitution and parliamentary government at the end of the month.

• 1936, Dec - A Bulgarian cooperative delegation headed by the chairman of the Union of Popular Banks visits the USSR.

• 1936, During the year - VMRO activists led by Dimitar Gyuzelev found the Macedonian People’s Movement to fight for democratic rule in Yugoslavia and for self-determination for Bulgarians in Macedonia.

• Late 1936 - early 1937 - Tsar Boris travels abroad to gauge the political situation.

• 1937, Jan 24th - A friendship treaty is signed between Bulgaria and Yugoslavia.

• 1937, Jan 27-28th - Krastyo Rakovski is arrested in Moscow on charges of participating in a counter-revolutionary terrorist organization.

• 1937, Late Jan - The “Five” created an agreement on joint participation in municipal elections between them, the democratic party, and the Pladne Agrarians, as well as with support of the Communists.

• 1937, Jan-Apr - A campaign to collect signatures in support of the “People’s Demand” and the creation of a constitutional committee is undertaken.

• 1937, Mar 7-28th - Municipal elections to fill the municipal councils occur without political parties. The opposition parties boycott these elections which are subsequently won by the government.

Sources:

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

• The Rose of the Balkans by Ivan Ilchev

• Crown of Thorns by Stephane Groueff

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

• History of the Balkans: Twentieth Century by Barbara Jelavich

• Bulgaria 1879-1946: The Challenge of Choice by Tatiana Kostadinova