Abstract: The paper analyzes the circumstances in which Bulgaria and the Allies signed the Armistice in October 1944. It is the fundamental document from which the post-war structure of power arose in Bulgaria (as well as in other countries that were Nazi satellites). The attitude of the Allies towards the term “unconditional surrender” is discussed on the basis of the collection of sources: Foreign Relations of the United States. The work contributes to a more detailed understanding of the Yugoslav context at the end of the war.

Keywords: Bulgaria, Soviet Union, United States of America, Great Britain, Armistice, unconditional surrender

Summary

Bulgaria signed the Armistice with the Allies on October 28, 1944.From September 9 until the installation of the Allied Control Commission, which was foreseen by that document, the foundations of the new post-war system in Bulgaria had already been laid. With the signing of the Armistice in Moscow at the end of October, the Allied Control Commission (ACC) was installed in Bulgaria. This body was entrusted with the task of implementing the provisions of the Armistice and was supposed to govern Bulgaria until the signing of the peace agreement. The ACC was organized on the same principle on which the Allied Control Commissions were organized in Italy and Romania. According to that model, the Soviet Union played a major role in the political life of Bulgaria and Romania (later also in Hungary), while in Italy the Anglo–Americans had the upper hand. In this way, a certain reciprocity was established between the Allies. The signing of the Armistice with Bulgaria (as well as with the other former Nazi satellites) was preceded by inter-Allied discussions on the concept of unconditional surrender as well as on the phrasing of the declaration which was to be presented to the Nazi satellites. Roosevelt’s firm position that unconditional surrender must be consistently enforced overall German satellites was challenged by Great Britain’s attempt to abandon the principle of unconditional surrender. By doing that, Great Britain tried to defend its own interests in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. In principle, the Soviets supported Roosevelt’s demand for consistent application of the principle of unconditional surrender, but at the same time, with Roosevelt’s consent, they agreed to divide the Balkans into spheres of interest, as the British proposed. With the signing of the Armistice, Bulgaria fell under the military and political influence of the USSR, which, in addition to the fact that the Armistice had the same consequences in Romania, created an important part of the post-war processes in the Eastern Balkans.