On April 19, 1939, Prime Minister Georgi Kyoseivanov issues Directive No. 19 .
The document officially recognizes that Bulgaria has territorial aspirations towards its neighbors. As we do not want to quarrel with England, we do not show our claims to Greece.
For this purpose, the Bulgarian demands are clearly graded - receiving South Dobrudja up to the borders determined by the Berlin Congress on July 1, 1878, White Sea Thrace - within the borders of the Bucharest Treaty of July 28, 1913, and possibly those handed over to Yugoslavia with the Nyoi dictation Western suburbs.
In return, Bulgaria will remain neutral in case of war, but if one does break out, Bulgaria will not go to war with Germany under any circumstances. Everyone in Europe knows that Bulgaria wants South Dobrudja. For this purpose, we also find support in the face of the USSR, Italy, Germany, Great Britain and others. The question is how to get Romania to return South Dobrudja without war. In June 1940, the Russians gave Romania an ultimatum to return Bessarabia, the Hungarians wanted Transylvania. Germany arbitrates and the Romanians return the territories. Germany is pushing Romania to come together to negotiate with Bulgaria in August. Tough negotiations. Romanians want Balchik and Silistra. The Bulgarians want the territories from the Bucharest Peace Treaty of July 1913
Koseivanov's successor as prime minister - Bogdan Filov even wants to take them by force, but he doesn't. On September 7, 1940, the Craiova Agreement was signed. About 80,000 Romanians have to emigrate from Bulgaria and 60,000 Bulgarians from the territory of Romania. Bulgaria is supported by the USSR, Germany and England. The Russians are urging Bulgaria to take back Northern Dobruja as well, and Bulgaria's answer is that it is not, it is not crazy to border the USSR! Pressure is beginning from Russia for Bulgaria to join the Tripartite Pact. This is only temporary. Mussolini declares that he will attack Greece and offers Bulgaria to attack it together. The special envoy of the American government, William Donevan, arrives and persuades the king to remain neutral. A personal message is coming for Bulgaria not to attack Yugoslavia and Greece. Bulgaria has nothing against it, but it depends on how many divisions they will send. Finally, the Soviet envoy Arkady Sobolev arrives. He brings Boris a proposal for a pact that Bulgaria will not go to war with the USSR. The USSR promises that it will not change the system and gives it Eastern and Western Thrace.
The Sobolev proposal was rejected, but at the end of 1940-1941 some decision had to be made, and on January 20 the government decided to join the Tripartite Pact, but at a later date. Hitler must crush the USSR. He must pass through Bulgaria, and she, in turn, must decide how: as friends or as enemies. The government decides it's better if they pass as our allies. On March 1, 1941, Bogdan Filov signed the Tripartite Pact in Vienna, with which Bulgaria entered the war. Shortly after us, Yugoslavia also joined the pact. Then there was a coup in Yugoslavia and it concluded a ........ with the USSR.
On April 6, 1941, the German attack on Yugoslavia and Greece. Bulgarian troops did not participate in this attack, but because they provided terrain, Yugoslavia bombarded Kyustendil. In May, Bulgarian troops occupy Vardar Macedonia and Western Thrace. A civil administration was also introduced there. Bridges, roads, bridges, schools are cut. Not all of Western Macedonia was given to Bulgaria. One part is given to Italy (because of the Albanians). They also hold Albania. Western Thrace: German administration is introduced in its eastern part (Dedeagach – Svilengrad). On July 22, 1941, Germany attacked the USSR.