Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Sofia marks anniversary since bombings during Second World War

2
Bombings of Sofia during the WW2
Photo: militarymuseum.bg

On November 14, 1943, massive air raids against Bulgaria began during the Second World War. For 5 months, Sofia was systematically bombed by the allies USA and Great Britain. 

By April 17, 1944, a total of 2,000 aircraft in 7 day and 5 night attacks dropped over 8,800 bombs over the Bulgarian capital. 

The targets were mainly civilian objects. More than 900 people were killed and more than 1,000 were injured. 12,567 residential, industrial and public buildings were destroyed. The entire bourgeois center of the city was destroyed. 


The bombings came after the forced accession of Bulgaria to the Tripartite Pact of Germany, Italy and Japan on March 1, 1941, and from the irrationally declared war on December 13 of the same year by Bulgaria against the United States and Great Britain.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

Gallery

More from category

The Holy Forty Martyrs church in Veliko Tarnovo - a shrine in Bulgarian history

March 9 is the feast day of the Church of the Forty Martyrs in the town of Veliko Tarnovo - a place of exceptional importance for the Bulgarian statehood, which worthily preserves the memory of the glorious Tarnovo kings. ‎ On March 9, the..

published on 3/9/25 8:05 AM

Father Lyubomir Leontinow from Berlin: Closeness is measured by the heart, not by distance

Father Lyubomir Leontinow is one of three priests at the Cathedral of St Boris the Conqueror in Berlin and was the first priest ordained for the Western and Central European Diocese in 1994. After completing his theology studies in Bulgaria, he settled..

published on 3/9/25 7:30 AM

Great Lent begins

After Cheesefare (Forgiveness) Sunday, the Great Lent has begun on March 3. Orthodox Christians will abstain from eating animal food including meat, eggs, milk and dairy products. The Great Lent symbolizes the 40 days which Jesus spent in the..

published on 3/3/25 9:52 AM