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80 years since the most brutal bombing of Sofia

Photo: sofiahistorymuseum.bg

Exactly 80 years ago - on January 10, 1944, during the Second World War, the most destructive round-the-clock Anglo-American bombing was carried out over Sofia. At nighttime, the Bulgarian capital city was attacked by the British aviation, and during the day - by the American. 

A total of 1,784 bombs were dropped on the capital city. Despite the resistance of the anti-aircraft artillery and the Bulgarian aviation, the enemy managed to inflict serious damage. Nearly 950 people died, mostly civilians, and more than 700 were injured, reports the Regional History Museum in Sofia. A mass evacuation of the population began In just one week, over 300,000 residents left Sofia.

During the Second World War, Tsar Boris III and the government of Prof. Bogdan Filov tried to maintain neutrality, but this proved impossible. On March 1, 1941, the prime minister signed a protocol in Vienna for the accession of Bulgaria to the Tripartite Pact. Under the pressure of Germany and Italy, on December 13, 1941, Bulgaria declared a symbolic war on the USA and England. Most of the ruling elite did not suspect that this act would soon cause severe destruction in Sofia.

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