World_War_II Macedonia_(region)

bulgaria joined axis powers in 1941, when german troops prepared invade greece romania reached bulgarian borders , demanded permission pass through bulgarian territory. threatened direct military confrontation, tsar boris iii had no choice join fascist block, officially happened on 1 march 1941. there little popular opposition, since soviet union in non-aggression pact germany.

on 6 april 1941, despite having officially joined axis powers, bulgarian government maintained course of military passivity during initial stages of invasion of yugoslavia , battle of greece. german, italian, , hungarian troops crushed yugoslavia , greece, bulgarians remained on sidelines. yugoslav government surrendered on 17 april. greek government hold out until 30 april. on 20 april, period of bulgarian passivity ended. bulgarian army entered aegean region. goal gain aegean sea outlet in thrace , eastern macedonia , of eastern serbia. so-called vardar banovina divided between bulgaria , italians occupied west macedonia. bulgarian occupation of macedonia viewed oppressive inhabitants of region, further distancing previous affiliations between macedonian , bulgarians.

during german occupation of greece (1941–1944) greek communist party-kke main resistance factor military branch eam-elas (national liberation front). although many members of eam slavic-speaking, had either bulgarian, greek or distinct macedonian conscience. take advantage of situation kke established snof cooperation of yugoslav leader tito, ambitious enough make plans greek macedonia. established anti-fascistic assembly national liberation of macedonia (asnom) giving actual liberating character whole region of macedonia. besides, kke positive option of greater macedonia, including greek region, since realized victory in greek civil war utopic. later eam , snof disagreed in issues of policy , crashed , latter expelled greece (1944).