BUGARSKA U PRIPREMAMA ZA OKUPACIJU JUGOSLAVIJE - PRILOG IZUČAVANJU »VELIKOBUGARSKE IDEJE« 1939. - 1941.
BULGARIA'S PREPARATIONS FOR THE OCCUPATION OF YUGOSLAVIA - SUPPLEMENT TO THE RESEARCH OF THE »IDEA OF GREAT-BULGARIA« 1939 - 1941

Summary/Abstract: Emperor Boris III and his government did not seen Germany’s penetration into Bulgaria as a loss of sovereignty and independence, although the people of the country regarded it as precisely that. A series of circumstances, objective (economic dependence, full 'dependence on Germany for the acquisition of arms, Germany’s great influence on Bulgarian armed forces through the industry, instructors and counselors) and subjective (the ideological affinity of the two regimes, the Germanophile inclinations of the Bulgarian bourgeoisie, anti-Communism as the official doctrine in both countries and shared revisionist tendencies), encouraged the strengthening of the military and political position of Hitler’s Germany in Bulgaria. The decidedly pro-germanic orientation of the Bulgarian monarcho-fascist rulers ensured the support of other countries of the Axis to this regime which, in conditions of domestic hostility, gave the ruling class valuable aid in preserving power. Emperor Boris III and the Bulgarian government, led by practical reasons and strategic interests on the Balkans, which were defined in the »Great-Bulgarian Program«, made theoretical and practical preparations from 1939 to 1941 for the events which would take place between 1941 and 1944. The preparations were manifested in the creation of political and economic concepts, the strengthening of the pro-fascist ideology and the building of a strong military and police force backed by Germany. Furthermore, the events of this period clearly showed that the success of the occupation would also depend on the processes of disintegration and inter-ethnic problems existent in Yugoslavia. Bulgaria became Germany’s most trusted ally on the Balkans. Having received Hitler’s permission on 18 April 1941, Bulgaria began to put into effect the »Great-Bulgarian Program« with all its forces (military, police, political, legal, educational and church administration). In order to ensure the support of public opinion for this policy, the idea of »liberating old Bulgarian« territories and people and their »union with mother Bulgaria«was spread with the aid of powerful propaganda.

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