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Bulgaria and the Aegean Sea Region (October 1940 - 9th September 1944)
Military and political aspects
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Dimiter Yonchev (Sofia, 1993)
In the end of 1939s the Bulgarian expectations for an eventual peace revision of theNeuilli Treaty increased.

After signing of the Bulgaro-Roumanian Treaty at 7th September 1940, according to which South Dobroudja was returned to Bulgaria, the Bulgarian diplomacy turns its efforts for taking back the Western Thrace, without giving up from seaking possibilities for taking back the other captured Bulgarian territories.

The time, during which the White Sea district was incorporated to Bulgaria could be divided into two periods. The first is from 20th April 1941 - the date when the Bulgarian troops enter the district to the 9th of September 1944, when the power was captured by the Fatherland front. The Second period is from 9th of September 1944 to 26th October 1944, when Bulgaria drew from the district.

The author's attention is drawn by two problems. The first one is - why Bulgaria, which has national and territorial disputes and problems with Yougoslavia and Greece, does not participate in Germany's war against those states. The Second one is how to be evaluated Bulgaria's presence in the White Sea district from the point of view of the undisolved by the history national and territorial problems.

In the first chapter the author exposes his views about the first problem to which the history science has already answered in some degree. The other five chapters are devoted to the evaluation of the Bulgarian presence in the White Sea district.
In the book an attempt is made for revealing the policy of the Bulgarian government towards the region - like an ..occupied" territory or like deprived Bulgarian lands, incorporated to Bulgaria. Important is also the organisation, the tasks and the funktions of the Bulgarian troops.

The contents of the investigation is - statement, analysis and valuation of the sources. This gives the possibility to draw the conclusion that the Bulgarian government's attitude towards the White Sea district is not like towards ..occupied" territories, but like Bulgarian lands. On the basis of the archives' sources, most of which were not used up to this moment, the author comes to the conclusion that whole activity of the Bulgarian government was directed towards the integration of the district with Bulgaria and towards the development of the former.

Bulgaro-German military relations are also revealed, as well as the development of the defence and the counter activity against eventual Allied operation in the district.

The author follows also the changing of the military political situation in the world and its reflection in the district. Nevertheless, the developments, the attitude and the policy of the Bulgarian government towards the district did not change, i.e. it remains like an undivided part of the country. Considerable resources were spent for building, urbanizing the White Sea district.
In 1943, as a result of the sudden change in the Second World war, the Bulgarian military presence in the White Sea district increases. That was imposed by the German pressure for increasing the share of the Bulgarian army in the deference of the White Sea coast.

King Boris III agrees that 7th Infantry Division enter in Greece. The unsuccessful development of the military strategic situation for the German Reich influences also Bulgarian government's policy in the region. Bulgarian government does not want to furthermore engage in the German's plans for the defence of the Peninsula west from the river Strouma, i.e. on Greek territory.
The entry of the Bulgarian troops on Greek territory in 1943 provokes increasing of the Greek nationalism and increasing the repressions and the punishments over the Bulgarian ethnical element in Aegean Macedonia.

During the spring and the summer of 1944 the Bulgarian government makes efforts and takes measures to prevent the return of the White Sea district to Greece. Even during the complicated political situation of the 1944 summer continues to be consistent in its policy towards the White Sea distict and continues to sponsor its development. As a result of this policy, during the period in question, Bulgaria spends 47 102 232 169 levs for the economic development of a Bulgarian district, having in mind the military situation.

Joing of the White Sea district to Bulgaria not only contributes for the economic development of the district, but also saved its population from starving, which was the case among the population of Greek territories, occupied by Germany and Italy.
As a result, the Bulgarian government played an important role during 1941-1944 for the economic development of the White Sea district and formed suitable premises for its socio-economic development in the postwar years.


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