Figure 1.--The Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe moved into Bulgaria after the country joined the Axis (March 1941). Subsequently, Luftwaffe units were deployed to Bulgaria as part of the formidable aur defense of the Ploesti oil fields. We are not sure what is hapening here. The photograph looks to have been taken in 1941-43. The soldiers are Luftwaffe men. The women and children may be gypsies.

The Luftwaffe along with the Wehrmacht deployed to Bulgaria when Bulgaria joined the Axis (March 1941). The Luftwaffe was thus in position for the invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece (April 1941). The Bulgarian declaration of war against America and Britain seemed a relatively safe, symboloic action (December 1941). Allied successes in North Africa, however, brought Bulgaria within range of Allied bombers. Bulgarian air defense and air force attacked Allied bombers returing from an attack on Ploesti (August 1943). Many already heavily damaged. The Allies bombed Sofia and other Bulgarian targets (1943). Allied air strikes from North Africa on the Ploesti oil fields had to pass over Bulgaria and Bulgarian occupied Yugoslavia and Greece. The air defenses of Ploesti were some of the most formidable of World War II. The Bulgarian Air Force became part of the German air defenses protecting Polesti. Luftwaffe units were deployed in Bulgaria, primarily to defend Polesti. of the German air defenses protecting Polesti. Luftwaffe units were deployed in Bulgaria, primarily to defend Polesti. The Allied invasion of Italy resulted in the seizure of air bases in southern Italy. This enabled the Allies to expand attcks on the vital Ploesti oil fields in Romania. The Allies also targeted NAZI Allies in the Balkans, including Bulgaria. Sofia was targetted (late 1943-early 1944). When the Red Army entered the Balkans (August 1944), Bulgaria switched sides (September 1944). The Germans no longer had forces capable of intervning in force. They did try to seize the Bulgarian occupation force in Macedonia. In similar sututation the previous year, the Italians largek=ly syrrendered. The Bulgarianns fought. The Bulgarians resisted and the Bulgarian Air Force using German provided aircraft provided effective cover as they withdrew into Bulgaria. By this time of the War, the Luftwaffe had been serious weakend so the Belgarian air cover provd very effective.

Created: 4:36 AM 2/5/2008
Last updated: 7:42 AM 11/8/2018