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

80 years since the communist coup in Bulgaria

Photo: historymuseum.org

It is 80 years, on 9 September, since the communist coup d'état which put an end to the Kingdom of Bulgaria.

On 9 September, 1944, as World War II was still raging, officers who had passed over to the so-called Fatherland Front seized the Ministry of War, the Central Post Office, the Central Railway Station and other key sites in Sofia. The cabinet ministers from the government of Konstantin Muraviev were arrested and Kimon Georgiev, who took the helm of the new government, declared, over the radio, the new government of the national committee of the Fatherland Front. Bulgaria, which had been an ally of Nazi Germany, had by that time severed relations with the Third Reich. Nevertheless, on the night of 9 September, 1944, the government was overthrown, and Bulgaria was occupied by the Soviet Union’s red army. Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence, and a wave of brutal violence and repressions ensued, with the so-called People’s Court later sentencing thousands to death, thus effectively beheading the country’s political, state, military and intellectual elite.



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.

More from category

Torrential rain causes state of emergency in village of Lehchevo in Montana region

A state of disaster has been declared in the Montana village of Lehchevo , Boychinovtsi municipality, after torrential rain last night, which flooded houses and led to the evacuation of residents. Two women, aged 70 and 93, were trapped in a water trap..

published on 4/27/25 10:40 AM

“Yes, Bulgaria” elects: One or two co-chairpersons

The political formation “Yes, Bulgaria” which is part of the opposition coalition “Democratic Bulgaria” is calling a national conference to elect a new leader or two leaders to replace former chairman Hristo Ivanov who resigned over poor results at..

published on 4/27/25 8:10 AM
Antonio Costa

European Council President Antonio Costa visits Bulgaria

European Council President Antonio Costa will be paying a three-day visit to Bulgaria 27-29 April. His schedule includes meetings with President Rumen Radev and with Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov. He is also expected to visit production and..

published on 4/27/25 7:35 AM