Историческата съдба на България през погледа на немската историопис (1878–1939)
Bulgaria’s Historical Fate as Seen by German Historiography (1878–1939)

Summary/Abstract: The interest of the German scholars in Bulgaria was stirred up together with the resurrection of the Bulgarian State after the Liberation (1878) form five centuries of Turkish slavery. The quantitative increase in the publications to a certain extent reflected the economic and political interest of the Great Powers in the “heart” of Europe in the small state in its periphery but of strategic importance as a bridge between the East and the West, the North and the South. Characteristic of the German historical Bulgarian studies in that sixty-years long period were: first, the participation in it of representatives of all branches of the humanities, as well as of politicians, public figures, the military, etc.; second, the rich range of the themes and events studied which contributed not only to a scientific acquaintance with the Bulgarian lands, the Bulgarian people and the vicissitudes in the fate of the Bulgarian State, but also to their popularization in Germany. Unlike the works of the contemporary German historians, those of their pre-war predecessors indicated the correct approach of a scholar not burdened by national bias and ad hoc interstate relations on the Macedonian question. It was the fruit of thorough researches into Bulgarian history and personal contacts with the population of the Macedonian land. German historiography on Bulgaria has made a doubtless contribution to the strengthening of the scientific ties between historians of the two countries, to the professional communications from which they benefited and, therefore, to the enrichment of bilateral cultural relations.

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