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

Bulgaria commemorates 100 years of severing of Bulgaria's Western outlands after end of WW1

Town of Bosilegrad, in present-day Serbia
Photo: far.rs

After the First World War /1914-1918/ and the decision of the Neuilly Peace Treaty in 1919, on November 6, 1920, the Serbian army occupied Bulgaria's Western outlands (129 settlements in the regions of Tsaribrod, Bosilegrad, and Strumica) with an area totalling ​​1,545 sq. km and a population of nearly 65,000 people. 

On the day of the occupation, the National Assembly of Bulgaria suspended its sittings as a token of protest and declared 3 days of national mourning. 
The black headscarf became a symbol of this occupation. The Bulgarian women in the occupied territories put on black headscarves ion their heads in sign of national mourning, and the border drawn in this way has been called by the local Bulgarians the "Black Border". 
In the occupied territories, Serbs closed down 7 schools and 45 churches.
Despite the pandemic, Bosilegrad Cultural and Information centre, GLAS Association and the Democratic Union of Bulgarians in Bosilegrad, Serbia, will symbolically mark the Day of the Western Outlands and the centenary of the occupation of these lands with a minute of silence to those who died at the border, the Bosilegrad Cultural and Information Centre has announced. 



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

Bulgaria's toll system begins fining overloaded trucks

Starting October 15, Bulgaria's toll system has begun weighing heavy vehicles over 3.5 tons while they are in motion. The weighing process is fully automated. "Currently, 10 out of nearly 100 planned devices have been certified. The sensors..

published on 10/15/25 10:27 AM

The number of Ukrainians using indefinite state shelter is decreasing

The number of Ukrainian citizens with temporary protection in the country who are accommodated in hotels and other facilities under the program for humanitarian support and integration of displaced persons from Ukraine has decreased by half. Currently,..

published on 10/15/25 9:29 AM

The leader of GERB speaks about reformatting the ruling majority

"We will no longer help ensure a quorum in Parliament", said Boyko Borissov, leader of GERB, the party holding the mandate for the government formed by the parliamentary majority. His statement, made in front of the party's parliamentary group and..

published on 10/15/25 9:12 AM