The_Balkan_Wars Macedonia_(region)

the imminent collapse of ottoman empire welcomed balkan states, promised restore european territory. young turk revolution of 1908 proved nationalistic movement thwarting peoples expectations of empire s modernization , hastened end of ottoman occupation of balkans. end, alliance struck among balkan states in spring 1913. first balkan war, lasted 6 weeks, commenced in august 1912, when montenegro declared war on ottoman empire, forces engaged 4 different wars in thrace, macedonia, northern , southern albania , kosovo. macedonian campaign fought in atrocious conditions. retreat of ottoman army macedonia succeeded desperate effort of greek , bulgarian forces reach city of thessalonica, single prize of first balkan war status no prior agreements done. in case possession equal acquisition. greek forces entered city first liberating officially, progress positive them. glenny says: greeks war .

the first balkan war managed liberate balkans turks , settled major issues except macedonia. in spring 1913 serbs , greeks begun serbianization , hellenization of parts in macedonia controlled, while bulgarians faced difficulties against jews , turkish populations. moreover, possession of thessalonica living dream bulgarians preparing new war. this, bulgarian troops had secret order in june 1913 launch surprise attacks on serbs. greece , serbia signed previous bilateral defensive agreement (may 1913). consequently, bulgaria decided attack greece , serbia. after initial gains bulgarians forced retreat bulgaria proper , lose of land had conquered during first war.

the treaty of bucharest (august 1913) took off of bulgarian conquests of previous years. large part of macedonia became southern serbia, including territory of today republic of macedonia , aegean macedonia became northern greece. greece doubled territory , population size , northern frontiers remain today, more or less same since balkan wars. however, when serbia acquired vardarska banovina (the present-day republic of macedonia), launched having expansionist views aiming descend aegean, thessalonica highest ambition. however, greece after population exchange bulgaria, after victory in balkan wars, managed give national homogeneity in aegean , remaining slavic-speakers absorbed.

many volunteers macedonia joined bulgarian army , participated in battles against bulgarian enemies in these wars—on strength of macedonian-adrianopolitan volunteer corps , other units.