Božica B. MLADENOVIĆ
Filozofski fakultet Univerziteta u Nišu
bozica.mladenovic@filfak.ni.ac.rs

The Bulgarian Occupation Regime in Serbia 1915–1918
In the Light of Austro-Hungarian Documents

Abstract: This paper discusses the establishment and crucial aspects of the Bulgarian occupation system in the Kingdom of Serbia from 1915 to 1918. It is based on primary historical sources of German and Austrian origin and existing literature. The key characteristics of the occupying authorities, represented by the two military-inspection areas: Morava and Macedonia, are analyzed through the prism of the violations of the Hague Convention of 1908 (Convention with respect to the Laws and Customs of War on Land).

Summary

In the occupied part of Serbia, the Bulgarians structured their internal organization to match the provisional conditions imposed by the war, but also with regard to the intention of keeping these territories permanently. It was a combined military and civilian administration. The military role was crucial and the highest military and civilian authority was in the hands of the military governor-general. The bureaucracy, especially the managerial staff, as well as the mayors came from Bulgaria. In the course of the war, although the Hague Conventions specifically protected the civilian population, private property, state property, the Bulgarian state violated articles 46, 47 and 56 and selectively applied articles 45 and 52 b of the Hague Convention.

The Bulgarian occupation authorities endeavored to submit the Serbs and turn them into “good” Bulgarians. In doing so, the occupation authorities applied the following methods: internment, Bulgarization, and ruthless economic exploitation. In the area of ​​Niš and in Macedonia, deportations began immediately. Deportees were priests, teachers, doctors, deputies, etc. The use of Serbian personal names, language and script was forbidden. Regulations were issued ordering the confiscation of textbooks and teaching materials in the Serbian language, Serbian books, pictures and maps at public institutions, bookstores, and private homes. The occupation officials received orders on the “absolute prohibition of any correspondence in the Serbian language.” Parishes of Serbian priests were assigned to Bulgarian priests and the occupied areas were placed under the direct authority of the Bulgarian Church. Churches and monasteries were desecrated and looted. Schools in Bulgarian language with Bulgarian teaching staff were established. The Bulgarian occupation authorities exercised preventive punishment over the occupied population for three years, demonstrating power and brutality. It was an unsuccessful attempt to turn the residents of the Kingdom of Serbia into "good Bulgarian citizens."