Figure 1.--These Red Arm soldiers in Bulgaris duing Worlld War II probbly bou Novmber 1944. They are posinhg at what looks like the Frredom Memorial at the Shipka Pass. Nearly 1000 steps lead to the top of Mt. Stoletov (1,326m), dominated by the impressive, 32m-high Monument. It was built in 1934 as a memorial to more than 7,000 Russian troops and Bulgarian volunteers who died in the Battle of Shipka Pass (1877). The fighters successfully repelled numerous attacks by around 27,000 Turkish soldiers. It was part of the Russo-Turkish War that led to ian independence of Balkan states like Bulgaria. Notice the little girl with the Russians. We have no idea who she is. Many units had orphan boys, sons of the rgiment, but never daughters of the regiment.

The Soviet Union finally reached the Balkans (summer 1944). The Red Army driving the Germans back on the Eastern Front reached Romania, the most important Germany ally in the East. Romania had been a major partticipant in Barbrossa. Bulgaria was very different. It had been forced into the Axis. It was atepid Axis member ar best abhd did not participate in Barbarossa. In fact, Bulgaria had maintained diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union throughout the War, the only Axis country besides Japan to do so. The Red Army destroyed the only major NAZI force in the south at Lassi-Kishinev (August 1944). The destruction of the Axis defences around Iaşi and Chişinău opened the approaches to the Balkans. The Soviet destruction of Germany Army Group Central to the north as well as the liberation of France in the West forced the German to withdrawl from the Balkans in a desperate effort save the forces there anf to protect the Reich. Romania withdrew from the Axis and declared war on Germany (August 23). The Romanians allowed the Red Army to cross its territory unhindered to reach Bulgaria. The Fatherland Front decided to launch an armed rebellion against the government (August 26). The BCP Central Committee decided to join with with other parties in the Fatherland Front. A new Bulgarian Government was organized (September 2). The Fatherland Front refused to support it because it inckluded members ghat had cooperated with the Germans. The Soviet Union declared war on Bulgaria (September 5) and invaded the country by crossing the Danube (Septenber 8). There was only limited resistance from the small German force in Bulgaria. Unlike Romania with the key Ploesti oil fields, Bulgaria was of only marginal strategic value to the Reich. The Bulgarian Government ordered the Army not to resist the Red Army. The Soviets proceeded to occupy northeastern Bulgaria and the two major ports (Varna and Burgas). Bulgarian Army units and partisan bans joined with the Red Army and quickly took Sofia. The Army's Sofia garrison with Zveno-supporting officers and under orders of the Fatherland Front took control of strategic points in Sofia. Zveno was a Bulgarian military and political organization. They overthrew the government and arrested the Government ministers (September 8).

Created: 5:15 AM 11/8/2018
Last updated: 5:15 AM 11/8/2018