This episode recaps the first half of Season 9, beginning with the First Balkan War in 1912. Victory in that war was quickly overshadowed by the growing reality that all of Bulgaria's neighbors were turning against it, leading to the Second Balkan War. In that conflict, Bulgaria was overwhelmed and defeated, leading to the loss of major territories. In its aftermath, the First World War offers an opportunity for revenge. Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out...

As the realities of the treaty ending the First World War for Bulgaria become clear, several political groups begin to form paramilitary wings as the violent struggle for post-war Bulgaria begins. Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/post/219-2nd-national-catastrophe

New elections and a final peace treaty with the Entente both loom as the struggle over who will control Bulgaria in the new post-war world begins to take shape. Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/post/218-stamboliiski-takes-charge Support the English version of Na Oko!...

With the First World War at an end, it's time to look back at the immense costs it has imposed on Bulgaria and the world. In this environment, Bulgaria is trying to stabilize itself and lobby the Paris Peace Conference for better terms, but success is far from guaranteed. Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for this episode at:...

With an army approaching Sofia, the government prepares for a fight while desperately awaiting news from the armistace negotiators. While it's clear the First World War is over for Bulgaria, just how that end is going to come remains to be seen. Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/post/216-armistice-abdication

With the collapse of the Macedonian front and revolution in the air, Tsar Ferdinand is forced to turn to his greatest opponent for help... Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/post/215-peasant-and-tsar

Some of the best fortifications in the world are manned by soldiers low on food, clothing, and supplies. So what happens when they meet an enemy determined to break a years long stalemate? Breakthrough. Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/post/214-breakthrough

The Central Powers are victorious in the east! Now it's time to divvy up the spoils... Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/post/213-the-spoils

With the collapse of the Provisional government and the onset of the Russian Civil War, the Central Powers have finally achieved victory in the east. But as negotiations over that peace begin, the course of the war remains just as unclear as ever. Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/post/212-eastern-victories

As the winter of 1916-17 comes to a close, the First World War enters a new phase as one major power enter and another moves towards the door under the grip of revolution. But for Bulgaria the struggle is to hold on as a powerful series of attacks in Macedonia put its defenses to the test. Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for this episode at:...

Just months after joining the war with high hopes of taking Transylvania from Austria-Hungary, Romania is now on the back foot and facing total collapse. Elsewhere, the Greek quasi-civil war is heating up, Bulgaria faces increasing difficulties at home, and the Serbs are finally pushing back against a harsh occupation. Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for...

Once again, Bulgaria faces fighting on multiple frontlines, with Entente forces attempting to put more pressure on them. This has transformed the war in the Balkans and now Bulgaria faces the prospect of losing an important city and potentially gaining an important region. The stakes have never been higher as the country stretches its capabilities to the limits. Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get...

As the war drags on, the Bulgarian government tightens its grip on power. Meanwhile, the Macedonian front becomes active again as the Central Powers attempt to take advantage of the confusing situation in Greece. But even with these successes the prospect of new Balkan states entering the war looms large over everything... Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images...

As 1915 comes to an end, Bulgaria suddenly finds a war it entered mere months ago entering a new phase. With the Salonika front settling into stalemate, Bulgaria now takes the role of the occupier, working to crush anything connected to Serbia in newly conquered territories. But a single overriding questions hangs in the air, what to do next? Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting...

Bulgaria finally enters the First World War, joining Germany and Austria-Hungary in a massive offensive against Serbia. But while some victories are coming easily, all is not as it seems. True, Bulgaria is finally realizing one of its greatest national ambitions, but will it all turn out to be just a dream? Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for this episode...

As Summer 1915 turns to Fall, Bulgaria makes it choice to join the Central Powers and attack Serbia. But in the final weeks before that decision becomes known, the country faced political turmoil and exceptionally difficult questions about the future... Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/post/205-the-die-is-cast

As the Great War drags on, Bulgarian participation becomes ever more valuable. Now, as the Spring of 1915 turns to summer both the Entente and Central Powers are vying for Bulgaria's support like never before. Meanwhile, new powers are entering the war and failures on the battlefield are reshaping the war again and again. Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images...

As the First World War moves past the optimistic summer of 1914 it quickly becomes clear to everyone that the war will not end anytime soon. Meanwhile, the intense courtship of Bulgaria as an ally begins, forcing the country to reckon with what its support might be worth. Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for this episode at:...

As Romania and Serbia crack down on the Bulgarian populations of their newly acquired territories, Bulgaria's Prime Minister attempts to finally build a governing coalition. At the same time, war clouds gather over Europe as the Great War finally begins. Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/post/202-great-war-begins

As the fighting of the Second Balkan Wars ends, Bulgaria searches for a path forward and hundreds of thousands of people in the region face difficult decisions: to stay or leave. Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/post/201-resistance-acceptance

After the conclusion of what is rightfully called the "first national catastrophe" it's worth looking back at the scale, scope, and meaning of the Balkan Wars to understand their importance to Bulgaria, Europe, and the world. Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/post/200-balkan-wars-retrospect

The die is cast as Bulgaria embarks on a surprise attack against Serbia and Greece to gain the territories it feels it has earned. Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/post/199-first-national-catastrophe

With the end of the First Balkan War, Bulgaria faces a difficult choice. Its army is on the brink of revolt, its neighbors are threatening war, and an uprising in Macedonia is poised to begin any moment. With Macedonia largely under Serbian and Greek control, what is Bulgaria to do? Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for this episode at:...

Just as Bulgaria achieves what one author terms its first diplomatic success of the war, the country is losing another kind of war. Supporters like you make this podcast happen! Check out www.patreon.com/bulgarianhistorypodcast to see the great perks you can get for supporting us. You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/post/197-beginning-end