On October 1, 1915 King Ferdinand I issues a Manifesto to the Bulgarian people, with which Bulgaria declares war on Serbia and joins the First World War (1914-1918) on the side of the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire). The manifesto was preceded by a mobilization announced in September by the government of Vasil Radoslavov. On October 3, Great Britain and France declared war on Bulgaria, and on October 7, Russia did the same.
In the BTA bulletin of October 1, 1915, we read:
Manifesto to the Bulgarian people
Bulgarians,
You are all witnesses of the incredible efforts I have made during the course of a whole year since the European war has been going on, to preserve the peace of the Balkans and the tranquility of the country.
I and my government tried, with the neutrality followed so far, to achieve the ideals of the Bulgarian people.
The two warring groups of Great Powers recognize the great injustice that was done to us by the partition of Macedonia. Both belligerents agree that it, for the most part, should belong to Bulgaria.
Only our treacherous neighbor Serbia remained adamant to the advice of her friends and allies. Not only did Serbia refuse to listen to their advice, but in its bitterness and greed it even attacked our own territory, and our brave troops were forced to fight for the defense of our own land.
Bulgarians,
Dear national ideals compelled me in 1912 to call our brave army to a struggle in which it selflessly unfurled the banners of freedom and broke the chains of slavery. Our Serbian allies were then the main reason we lost Macedonia.
Exhausted and weary, but not defeated, we had to lower our flags for better days.
The good days came much sooner than we could have expected.
The European war is drawing to a close. The victorious armies of the Central Empires are in Serbia and advancing rapidly.
We call on the Bulgarian armed people to defend their homeland, insulted by a treacherous neighbor and to liberate our enslaved brothers from the Serbian yoke.
Our work is right and holy.
I command, therefore, our brave army to drive the enemy out of the kingdom, to strike down the perfidious neighbor and to relieve our brothers tortured under the Serbian yoke.
We will fight against the Serbs at the same time as the brave troops of the Central Empires.
Let the Bulgarian soldier fly from victory to victory!
Forward! God bless our weapon!
Sofia, October 1, 1915
Source: BTA
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2023-10-01 04:26:07
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