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The NAZIs applied considerable diplomatic force on Bulgaria. This increased after Romania joined the Axis (November 1940). This brought the Whermacht to the Bulgraian border. There was no doubt that Bulgaria did not have the military force to resist a NAZI invasion.Bulgaria essentially had the choice of joining the Axis or risking a German invasion. At the time after its victories in the West, Germany looked like it could not be stopped--certainly not by the small Bulgarian Army. For Hitler the overriding objective was the need to secure the southern flank of Barbarossa. Mussolini by invasing Greece has seriously destabilized the Balkans, endangering both the southern flank of Barbaossa and exposing the vital Ploesti oil fields. Of course at the time, Hitler and his diplomats did not explain about Barbarossa. The Bulgarian public had mixed emotions about an alliance with the Germans. Unlike Yugoslavia, there was no great objection to joining the Axis. Nationalists were impressed when Hitler coerced Romania to restore south Dobrujain, a priovince lost in World War I. And they saw the possibility of territorial gains. Bulgaria had fought with the Germans in World War I. Even so, there were also historic and ethnic ties with the Russians to be considered. But that did not seem to be a problem in March 1941. The Soviet Union and NAZIs were virtual allies as a result of the NAZI-Soviet Non-agression Pact (August 1939). Hitler promised King Boris that Bulgaria once it joined the Axis could obtain the territory lost in World war I. Bulgaria finally joined the Axis. Boris agreed and prime-minister Bogdan Filov signed the Axis Pact (March 1, 1941). With accession to the Axis, German military units moved into Bulgaria, putting them in a position to move against northern Greece and southern Yugoslavia. At the time, Italy's misguided invasiion had pushed Greece toward the British. Yugoslavia Hitler hoped could also be forced into the Axis. Macedonia would prove to be an inducement. Bulgaria had lost the province in the Balkan Wars and World war I. While forced into the Axis, Bulgaria would play only a minor role in the conflict. Joining ther Axis did not commit Bulgaria to join in offensive German moves.
The NAZIs applied considerable diplomatic force on Bulgaria. This increased after Romania joined the Axis (November 1940). This brought the Whermacht to the Bulgraian border. Complications developed within the Axis Alliance. Romania was a country in which Italy also has interests. Romania was given a joint German-Italian guarantee. Hitler decided to respons to Antonescu's request for a military mission unilaterally without consulting Mussolini. And Mussolini resented it. The German move into Romania proved to be a major reason for Mussolin's unilateral decession to invade Greece (October 1940). Mussolini assumed it wouls be a NAZI-style police action like the occupation of Czechoslovakia (March 1939). He believed that it would demobstrate Mussolini and Italy were not a junior partner or dependent on Hitler. Hitler was furious as it upset is carefully laid diplmomatic plans for the Balkans. The Greeks turned to the British for assistance, just what Hitler didn't want. British involvement brought British aircradt within striking range of Ploesti. It is at this time that Hitler begins to contemplate an attack on Greece. And He began to strengrhen his relations with other Balkan countries. Romania officially joined the Axis Alliance (November 23). Hungary also joined as would Bulgaria a few months later.
There was no doubt that Bulgaria did not have the military force to resist a NAZI invasion.Bulgaria essentially had the choice of joining the Axis or risking a German invasion. At the time after its victories in the West, Germany looked like it could not be stopped--certainly not by the small Bulgarian Army. Bulgariahad cultural ties with Russia, but was anti-Communist. And Stalin and Hitler at the time were allies as a result of the NAZI-Soviet Non-Agression Pact. Thenmajor concern of the Bulgarians was staying out of the War and the growing German troop concentration in Romania along its northern border. For some Bulgarians the territoril gains offered by Hitler we an enducement. As far as we can tell the racial component of Hitler's war policy other than anti-Semitism was unknown. The German plans to radically reduce the Slav population in Eastern Europe as opart of the SS's Generalplan Ost was totally unknown to Primeminister Primeminister Bogdan Filov and the other pro-German faction in the Government.
For Hitler the overriding objective was the need to secure the southern flank of Barbarossa. Mussolini by invasing Greece has seriously destabilized the Balkans, endangering both the southern flank of Barbaossa and exposing the vital Ploesti oil fields. Of course at the time, Hitler and his diplomats did not explain about Barbarossa.
The Bulgarian public had mixed emotions about an alliance with the Germans. Unlike Yugoslavia, there was no great objection to joining the Axis. Bulgaria had been a German ally in World War I. Nationalists were impressed when Hitler coerced Romania to restore south Dobrujain, a province lost in World War I. And they saw the possibility of other territorial gains. Even so, there were also historic and ethnic ties with the Russians to be considered. But that did not seem to be a problem in March 1941. The Soviet Union and NAZIs were virtual allies as a result of the NAZI-Soviet Non-agression Pact (August 1939). Hitler promised King Boris that Bulgaria once it joined the Axis could obtain the territory lost in World war I.
King Boris after the World War I experience was reluctant to get involved in another war. We do not yet have details on Bulgarian-German negotiations. One source claims that the Germans offered Greek territory in Thrace and exempted Bulgaria from participation in the invasion of the Soviet Union. We were a little surprised that the Germans woukld talk so openly about Barbarossa. We need more information on ghis. At any case, Bulgaria finally joined the Axis. King Boris agreed and Primeminister Bogdan Filov flew to Vienna where he was receuved by Ribbentrop with considerable ceremony. Filov and Ribebntrop
signed the Axis Pact in Vienna (March 1, 1941). Hitler attended the ceremony and looked on approvingly. He interacted withthe delegate after the signing ceremony, clearly pleased with his handiwork. King Boris was not enthusiastic, but saw resisting the Germans was no longer possible. At the time it looked like Germany had won the War and there were possible territorial inducements. Filov explained that Bulgaria had decided to join the Axis not just because of Southern Dobruja, but because memnbership would "secure fior the nationthe possibility of developing in peace, strengthen its welfare, and safeguard ajust abnd permanent peace" He assured reporters that friendkly relatiions with the Soviet Union and Turkey would not be affected. Ribbentrop assured him that Bulgaria would be awarded an outlet to th Aegean between the Struma and Maritsa Rivers, meaning Greek territory. [Miller, p. 45.]
The Germans were aware from the beginning of the lack of enthusism for the Axis. He told associates, "I was struck to learn after the conclusion of the Tripartate Pact that the President of the Bulgarian Ministerial Council was scarcely cacclaimed by the population of Siofia, despite the major importance of the Pact to Bulgaria. The fact is that Bulgaria is stringly affected by Panslavism both in the political and on the sentimental level. It is attracted by Russia, even if sovetized." [Miller, pp. 45-46.] The Germnans un particuklar did not trust King Boris.
With accession to the Axis, German military units poured moved into Bulgaria, putting them in a position to move against northern Greece and southern Yugoslavia. At the time, Italy's misguided invasion had pushed Greece toward the British which brought the Ploesti oilfiels within in range of British bombers. When Bulgarian joined the Axis (March 1), the Whermacht was ready to act. The task was given to the 12th Army. The Whermact had activated the 12th Army (October 1939) under the command of General Wilhelm List. It was deployed in adefensive position along the Siegfried Line and then participated in the invasion and occupation of France. Afterwards, the Army was shifted east as part of the German buildup in the East. It was moved into Romania when that country joined the Axis (November 1940). The 12th Army begun assembling a sizeable force in southern Romania. We do not yet have precise details, but some 24 divisions may have been preopared to enter Bulgaria. Field Marshal List and the Bulgarian General Staff prepared for Bulgarian accension to the Axis, negotiated an agreemet allowing for the passage of German troops. German Army units crossed the Danube from Romania and took up strategic positions in Bulgaria (February 28). The plan was not to occupy Bulgaria. It was believed that Bulgarian woud be brought into the Axis diplomatically. The goal was was Greece which was fighing with Axis partner Italy. The ininital plan was to occupy the northern coast of the Aegean Sea and possibly the entire Greek mainland. he Luftwaffe was-to provide air protection during the assembly period and prepare bases in Romania. During the operation the Luftwaffe was to neutralize Greek and British air forces, support the ground forces, and prepare for airborn assults on British bases. It was at first believed that the Yugoslavs would also join the Axis. When this fell through, the German troops in Bulgaria were reposition to attack west into Yugoslavia. The German troops entering Bulgaria experienced agenerally warm welcome. There were reports that many villagers met the advance elements of the 12th Army with the traditional bread and salt ceremony. [Miller, p. 46.] Both the German and Bulgarian Governments were somewhat surprised with the warmth of the welcome. We are not sure just what was involved here, but it may have been at least partly because of World War I relationship as allies. Filov claimed this was a kind of plebecite showing support for his policies. Some historians believe it reflected the NAZI-Soviet alliance and saw it as a kind of sign that there would not be another war. After the victory over Yugoslavia and the Greeks, most the German troops were rapidly pulled out of Bulgaria, for both occupation durt and for assembly positions in Romania preparing for Barbarossa.
If the Bulgarian peasatry received the Germans warmly, the news was not well received in Moscow, at the time NAZI Germany's ally, providing Germnany with large quantities of vital raw materials. Foreign Minister Molotov immediately sent a protest note to Berlin. He claimed that the action was contrarry to the security interests of the Soviet Union. The Soviets had repeatedly raised the Bulgarian issue in their exchanges with the German Government. Molotov had personally raised the issue when he visited Berlin (November 1940). [Miller p. 46.] Actually only a few days after Molotov left Berlin, King Boris arrived and Hitler pressed him to join the Axis. Bulgaria joining the Axis was front page news throughout the wiorld, but the whole matter was down played in the Soviet media. Radio Moscow, however, raised in some detail in their Bulgarian language broadcasts.
The Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP) had long been opposed the pro-German policy of Prime Minister Bogdan Filov, They had campaigned in 1940 for a political pact with Moscow (the Sobolev action). Ther was not, however, any armed armed resistance in Bulgaria due to orders from Moscow. As aesult of the NAZI-Soviet Non-Agression Pact, Moscow instructed national Commuist parties to reduce criticism of the Germans. The Comintern thus adooted a non-intervention policy. They argued that the war between Germany and the Allies was an imperialist war between various national ruling classes. The Bulgarian Communist in communicatiin with Moscow, declared that joining the Axis was a 'fatal move' and again called for a pact with the Soviet Union.
Hitler hoped that Yugoslavia could also be forced into the Axis. Macedonia would prove to be an inducement. Bulgaria had lost the province in the Balkan Wars and World War I.
While forced into the Axis, Bulgaria would play only a minor role in the conflict. Joining ther Axis did not commit Bulgaria to join in offensive German moves. It did not join significantly in the attacks on Greece and Yugoslavia, but did oparticioar\te in the occuopation of wgat they consudered as lost territory. They adamently refused to join in on Babarossa. Until the Allies invaded Italy, however Bulgariahelped shield Ploesti from Allied air attacks.
Hitler letter to Mussolini, November 9, 1940
Miller, Marshall Lee. Bulgariaa duruing the Second World war.
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