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

Folklore Ensemble "Otets Paissii" from Pittsburgh receives the honorary badge of the President

A festive concert of the Otets Paissii Performing Folk Ensemble will be held in Nessebar today, as the ensemble celebrates 70 years since its establishment. The formation is the oldest Bulgarian folklore ensemble in the USA at the..

published on 6/21/25 10:15 AM

Midsummer's Day celebrated with torches and herbal wreaths in village of Delchevo

The village of Delchevo is restoring the tradition of celebrating Midsummer's Day with a two-day program on June 21 and 22, the Gotse Delchev municipality announced.  The events will begin on June 21 at 5:00 p.m. with a procession..

published on 6/21/25 5:10 AM

Astronomical summer comes with slight decrease in temperatures

On Saturday , the lowest temperatures will be between 11 to 18°C. In Sofia – about 11°C. Sunny weather will prevail during the day. Before noon, there will be significant cloudiness over the central parts of Northern Bulgaria and..

published on 6/20/25 7:35 PM