World_War_I History_of_Bulgaria_(1878–1946)

in aftermath of balkan wars bulgarian opinion turned against russia , western powers, whom bulgarians felt had done nothing them. government of vasil radoslavov aligned bulgaria germany , austria-hungary, though meant becoming ally of ottomans, bulgaria s traditional enemy. bulgaria had no claims against ottomans, whereas serbia, greece , romania (allies of britain , france) in possession of lands perceived in bulgaria bulgarian. bulgaria, recuperating balkan wars, sat out first year of world war i, when germany promised restore boundaries of treaty of san stefano, bulgaria, had largest army in balkans, declared war on serbia in october 1915. britain, france , italy declared war on bulgaria.

although bulgaria, in alliance germany, austria-hungary , ottomans, won military victories against serbia , romania, occupying of macedonia (taking skopje in october), advancing greek macedonia, , taking dobruja romanians in september 1916, war became unpopular majority of bulgarian people, suffered great economic hardship , disliked fighting fellow orthodox christians in alliance muslim ottomans. agrarian party leader, aleksandur stamboliyski, imprisoned opposition war. russian revolution of february 1917 had great effect in bulgaria, spreading antiwar , anti-monarchist sentiment among troops , in cities. membership in socialist parties in bulgaria boomed. however, socialists in bulgaria badly split ideologically. 1 group sought work other political parties representing other classes in order effective in bringing change bulgaria. because of broad outlook group of socialists known broads. second group of socialists in bulgaria purists , refused work parties of different classes. called narrows. eventually, broads formed bulgarian social democratic party , narrows became bulgarian communist party.

in june, 1919, radoslavov s government resigned. mutinies broke out in army, stamboliyski released prison , republic proclaimed.