The_Balkan_Wars History_of_Bulgaria_(1878–1946)

in 1911 nationalist prime minister, ivan evstratiev geshov, set forming alliance greece , serbia, , 3 allies agreed put aside rivalries plan joint attack on ottomans.

in february 1912 secret treaty signed between bulgaria , serbia, , in may 1912 similar treaty signed greece. montenegro brought pact. treaties provided partition of macedonia , thrace between allies, although lines of partition left dangerously vague. after ottomans refused implement reforms in disputed areas, first balkan war broke out in october 1912. (see balkan wars details.)

bulgarian dead in balkan wars

the allies had astonishing success. bulgarian army inflicted several defeats on ottoman forces , advanced threateningly against istanbul, while serbs , greeks took control of macedonia. ottomans sued peace in december. negotiations broke down, , fighting resumed in february 1913. ottomans lost adrianople combined bulgarian-serbian task force. second armistice followed in march, ottomans losing european possessions west of midia-enos line, not far istanbul. bulgaria gained possession of of thrace, including adrianople , aegean port of dedeagach (today alexandroupoli). bulgaria gained slice of macedonia, north , east of thessaloniki (which went greece), small areas along western borders.

boundaries on balkans after first , second balkan war (1912–1913)

bulgaria sustained heaviest casualties of of allies, , on basis felt entitled largest share of spoils. serbs in particular did not see things way, , refused vacate of territory had seized in northern macedonia (that is, territory corresponding modern republic of macedonia), stating bulgarian army had failed accomplish pre-war goals @ adrianople (i. e., failing capture without serbian help) , pre-war agreements on division of macedonia had revised. circles in bulgaria inclined toward going war serbia , greece on issue. in june 1913 serbia , greece formed new alliance, against bulgaria. serbian prime minister, nikola pasic, told greece have thrace if greece helped serbia keep bulgaria out of serbian part of macedonia, , greek prime minister eleftherios venizelos agreed. seeing violation of pre-war agreements, , discreetly encouraged germany , austria-hungary, tsar ferdinand declared war on serbia , greece , bulgarian army attacked on june 29. serbian , greek forces on retreat on western border, took upper hand , forced bulgaria retreat. fighting harsh, many casualties, during key battle of bregalnitsa. romania entered war , attacked bulgaria north. ottoman empire attacked south-east. war lost bulgaria, had abandon of claims of macedonia serbia , greece, while revived ottomans retook adrianople. romania took possession of southern dobruja.