Abstract: The article examines the termination of the diplomatic relations between Yugoslavia and Bulgaria in April 1941 and the expulsion of Yugoslav diplomatic personnel from Sofia. The first part of the article gives a brief overview of the events that ultimately resulted in two neighboring Balkan countries taking the opposite sides in the new world conflict, while the second part analyzes the causes and consequences of the closure of the Yugoslav legation in Sofia. The work is based on unpublished archival material from the archives in Serbia and Bulgaria, published sources and literature.

Keywords: Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, World War II, Germany, Invasion of Yugoslavia, Yugoslav legation, diplomatic relations

Summary

Internally weak and inconsistent in foreign policy, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria found themselves in a very unenviable position at the beginning of the World War II. In numerous diplomatic games, under constant pressure from German side and with various territorial aspirations, on March 27, 1941, the two Balkan states found themselves on opposite sides of the world conflict. During the German invasion of Yugoslavia, Bulgaria did not send troops, but through certain decisions it unequivocally sided with the aggressor. One of such decisions, which among other things had been served from Berlin, was the termination of diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia. This decision was communicated outside the official protocols, in a very rude way, to the registrar Dragovan Šepić, while the only two remaining representatives of the Legation, plenipotentiary Vladimir Sokolović and protocolist Ratko Zindović were imprisoned by the Bulgarian police. Soon, the Bulgarian government, through its authorities, acted very harshly with all official Yugoslav representatives and practically expelled them from the country. Yugoslav interests in Bulgaria were then represented by the USA, and after Bulgaria’s declaration of war against this country, the representation of Yugoslav interests was taken over by Switzerland. However, the protection of these interests took place in semi-official and unofficial forms. The problems related to the Yugoslav legation in Bulgaria continued even after the departure of the Yugoslav representatives. The rebuilding of the relations began only after the arrival of the new regimes in these two countries and under instructions from Moscow.