Text size

104 years since the annexation of the Western Outlands

published on 11/5/24 6:39 PM

The signing of the Treaty of Neuilly, 1919.

Photo: Archive

Today, 6 November, marks 104 years since the annexation of the Western Outlands in 1920. Traditionally Bulgarian territories in south-eastern Serbia and northern Macedonia were ceded to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1920 as a result of the Treaty of Neuilly (1919).

Between 6 and 8 November 1920, without waiting for the international commission to determine the exact new border with Bulgaria that their government wanted, Serbian troops occupied parts of the regions of Tsaribrod, Bosilegrad, Kula and Tran.

Marking the new border line near Belogradchik. Photo: Personal archive of Nikolai Tomov from Vidin

An area of 1,545 square kilometres with a population of 64,509 was taken from Bulgaria. The new border cut through 25 Bulgarian villages, dividing houses, yards, fields, springs, wells, cemeteries, roads, families, relatives and friends. As a result of these events, more than 30,000 Bulgarians emigrated to Bulgaria, and later about 5,000 of them emigrated to Western Europe and America, according to the Cultural Information Centre (CIC) "Bosilegrad".

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!

Radio Bulgaria History and religion 104 annexation western outlands

More from category

Ancient finds, new discoveries –2024 in archaeology at the National History Museum

In 2024, the National History Museum sent expeditions to 22 archaeological sites. More than 1,400 artifacts were found during the season spanning the period from prehistoric times down to the Middle Ages. The most significant of these discoveries are..

updated on 1/31/25 3:00 PM

BNR's Radio Bulgaria starts a podcast about our Orthodox communities abroad

From 31 January 2025, the first podcast about Bulgarian Orthodox communities abroad - Bridge of Faith - will be launched. The concept is the brainchild of the team of the Bulgarian National Radio's (BNR) overseas programme - Radio Bulgaria, and is being..

published on 1/31/25 7:15 AM

Tsar Boris III Unifier remembered by his son Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

It is 131 years since the birth of Tsar Boris III, dubbed unifier. Boris Saxe-Coburg-Gotha found himself at the head of Bulgaria after the abdication of Tsar Ferdinand after the defeat of the country in World War I. The young monarch was crowned..

published on 1/30/25 6:10 AM