As fascist powers continue to take land from their neighbors and take over new countries, an agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union shocks the word and gives Bulgaria an opportunity.

Major Characters in this Episode:

Tsar Boris III

Adolf Hitler

Prime Minister Koisseivanov

Timeline

• 1939, Feb - Germany opens the possibility of Bulgaria signing the Anti-Comintern Pact, but the cabinet makes it clear the government is not interested.

• 1939, Mar 12th - Anti-semites attack a concert of a Jewish conductor in Sofia.

• 1939, Mar 15th - Germany invades the remaining Czech state and annexes it.

• 1939, Mar 23rd - Germany and Romania sign an economic treaty.

• 1939, Apr 1st - The Nationalists win the Spanish Civil War.

• 1939, Apr 6th - Italy issues an ultimatum to Albania and begins occupying it the next day.

• 1939, Apr 13th - The UK and France issue guarantees of independence to Greece and Romania.

• 1939, Apr 18th - The Soviet Union proposes a “peace front” consisting of France, the UK, the Soviet Union, Poland, and Romania to resist aggression.

• 1939, Apr 21st - A second secret Bulgarian-German agreement is signed allowing Bulgaria to obtain 45 million Marks worth of Austrian military equipment.

• 1939, Apr 26th - During a visit to Sofia, the Soviet Deputy Commissar for Foreign Affairs, V. Potemkin declares his support for the peaceful revision of Bulgaria’s borders.

• 1939, May 9th - Romanian Gendarmes massacre 23 Bulgarians the a village in the Tutrakan region, provoking mass protests in Bulgaria and in some international organizations.

• 1939, Jun 24th - A third secret protocol is signed between Bulgaria and Germany for Bulgaria to brain 35 million marks worth of Czech military equipment.

• 1939, Jul - Prime Minister Koisseivanov visits Germany.

• 1939, Aug 23rd - Germany and the USSR sign the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.

• 1939, Aug 30th - By decree, the government bans all general meetings of all public organizations and societies.

• 1939, Sep 1st - Germany invades Poland, beginning the Second World War in Europe.

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

• History of the Balkans: Twentieth Century by Barbara Jelavich

• The Balkans by Misha Glenny

• Bulgaria During the Second World War by Marshall E. Miller

• Aleksandur Stamboliiski by R.J. Crampton

• The Bulgarian Communist Party from Blagoev to Zhivkov by John D. Bell