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245 To Reign and Govern
In Greece, the triumph of the monarchist faction has brought about a return of the King alongside a military dictatorship. Meanwhile, the old guard faction of the Bulgarian communists is triumphant as well, liquidating the left-sectarian faction and taking full control of the organization. But at home, Tsar Boris outplays the opposition to take further control of the government. Major Characters in this Episode: Tsar Boris III King George II of Greece General Metaxas Georgi D

Eric D. Halsey
Nov 123 min read


244 Checkmate
As the Zveno and Military League government focuses on implementing its reforms, it suddenly finds that it has been outplayed by an unlikely opponent. Major Characters in this Episode: Adolf Hitler Tsar Boris III Kimon Georgeiv General Vatev King Aleksander of Yugoslavia Prince Paul of Yugoslavia Petko Zlatev Timeline for this episode: 1934, Jul 30th - Internal and external opponents of the Nazis in Germany are murdered in the Night of the Long Knives. 1934, Aug 2nd - Hitler

Eric D. Halsey
Nov 83 min read


243 By Decree
After the May 19th coup, the new government quick sets about abolishing the constitution and ruling by decree. Major Characters in this Episode: Tsar Boris III Kimon Georgeiv Princess Marie-Louise Tsarina Giovanna Timeline for this episode: 1934, May 30th - Zveno dissolves itself. 1934, End of May - Mass arrests of activities and armed groups of the IDRO. 1934, Jun 9th - The Directorate of Public Renewal is established to censor the press, control public life, and generally e

Eric D. Halsey
Oct 262 min read


242 Zveno’s Strike
As the Mushanov government falls prey to infighting and corruption, forces within the military, political establishment, and even the palace make plans to end the malaise and remake the state. Major Characters in this Episode: Prime Minister Nikola Mushanov Alexander Tsankov Tsar Boris III Kimon Georgeiv General Vatev Timeline for this episode: 1932, Sep 7th - Prime Minister Mushanov makes key changes in his government. 1932, Sep 25th - Municipal elections in Sofia see the Wo

Eric D. Halsey
Oct 184 min read


241 Storm Clouds Gather
Yugoslavia gets a new constitution, the VMRO takes its violence to a new level, and Bulgaria gets brought ever closer to an increasingly authoritarian Germany. Major Characters in this Episode: Prime Minister Andrey Lyapchev Prime Minister Nikola Mushanov King Aleksander of Yugoslavia Tsar Boris III of Bulgaria Adolf Hitler Hermann Goering Georgi Dimitrov Timeline for this episode: 1931, Sep 3rd - King Aleksander of Yugoslavia announces a new constitution. 1932, Sep 7th - Pri

Eric D. Halsey
Sep 284 min read


240 Another Shot at Democracy
Major Characters in this Episode: Prime Minister Andrey Lyapchev Prime Minister Alexander Malinov Prime Minister Nikola Mushanov...

Eric D. Halsey
Sep 204 min read


239 Love and Depression
As the Great Depression spreads across the globe, Bulgaria is particularly vulnerable for a multitude of reasons. Meanwhile, the...

Eric D. Halsey
Aug 262 min read


238 Looking Back on The Experiment, Part 2
The stage is set for a final showdown between Stamboliiski and his long list of enemies. In the aftermath of that coup, Bulgaria...

Eric D. Halsey
Aug 251 min read


237 Looking Back on The Experiment, Part 1
With the onset of the 1920s, Bulgaria's firebrand Agrarian leader Alexander Stamboliiski rises to become the preeminent political power...

Eric D. Halsey
Jul 281 min read


236 Twilight of The Experiment
In Bulgaria and throughout the Balkans it seems that political experiments are coming to an end. Democracy is ending in Yugoslavia,...

Eric D. Halsey
Jul 213 min read


235 Under Pressure
While the moderate Prime Minister Lyapchev may have won the most recent election, his government struggles to combat radical factions...

Eric D. Halsey
Jun 292 min read


234 Triumph of the Moderates?
In power since the coup of 1923, Tsankov is finally brought down. But as a moderate government takes power in Bulgaria for the first time...

Eric D. Halsey
Jun 243 min read


233 The Terror
In the aftermath of the brutal bombing of the Sveta Nedelya church the Tsankov regime unleashes a new terror on its enemies. At the same...

Eric D. Halsey
May 313 min read


232 Holy Sunday
As the Tsankov regime cracks down even harder on leftists, the underground communist movement strikes back with horrific consequences....

Eric D. Halsey
May 272 min read


231 Strange Bedfellows
As the Tsankov regime tightens its grip on power, opposition to its policies is generating unexpected and controversial partnerships....

Eric D. Halsey
Apr 274 min read


230 The September Uprising
The Comintern's orders are clear. The Bulgarian Communist Party is to mount an uprising to overthrow the newly installed fascist regime...

Eric D. Halsey
Apr 263 min read


229 The Agrarian Regime in Retrospect
How did the seemingly dominant Agrarian regime of Alexander Stamboliiski collapse so quickly and what can the successes, failures, and...

Eric D. Halsey
Mar 281 min read


228 The Long-Awaited Blow
After years of waiting for the right moment to strike, the enemies of Stamboliiski's agrarian regime finally make their move. Major...

Eric D. Halsey
Mar 232 min read


227 A Brilliant Triumph
Fresh off the Agrarian victory in Veliko Tarnovo, Stamboliiski notches yet more victories for his government. But will such a brilliant...

Eric D. Halsey
Feb 192 min read


226 Blood on the Streets
Violence escalates as opposition to Stamboliiski's agrarian regime coalesces, leading to a showdown in Bulgaria's medieval capital. Major...

Eric D. Halsey
Feb 183 min read
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