Text size

104 years since the annexation of the Western Outlands

published on 11/5/24 6:39 PM

The signing of the Treaty of Neuilly, 1919.

Photo: Archive

Today, 6 November, marks 104 years since the annexation of the Western Outlands in 1920. Traditionally Bulgarian territories in south-eastern Serbia and northern Macedonia were ceded to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1920 as a result of the Treaty of Neuilly (1919).

Between 6 and 8 November 1920, without waiting for the international commission to determine the exact new border with Bulgaria that their government wanted, Serbian troops occupied parts of the regions of Tsaribrod, Bosilegrad, Kula and Tran.

Marking the new border line near Belogradchik. Photo: Personal archive of Nikolai Tomov from Vidin

An area of 1,545 square kilometres with a population of 64,509 was taken from Bulgaria. The new border cut through 25 Bulgarian villages, dividing houses, yards, fields, springs, wells, cemeteries, roads, families, relatives and friends. As a result of these events, more than 30,000 Bulgarians emigrated to Bulgaria, and later about 5,000 of them emigrated to Western Europe and America, according to the Cultural Information Centre (CIC) "Bosilegrad".

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!

Radio Bulgaria History and religion 104 annexation western outlands

More from category

Bronze statuette of a goddess from the Greco-Roman pantheon discovered on Kaliakra

An archaeological expedition led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Boni Petrunova – Director of the National Museum of History, discovered a massive bronze statuette of a goddess from the Greco-Roman pantheon. The artifact was found in residential premises in the..

published on 8/26/25 6:10 AM

Archaeologists uncover 13 ancient graves in central Sofia

13 ancient graves were discovered during archaeological excavations conducted on the premises of the National Academy of Art in Sofia. The excavation is led by archaeologist Elena Nikolova from the Regional History Museum. The excavations began on..

published on 8/22/25 9:44 AM

The Trapezitsa Hill in Veliko Tarnovo preserves the spirit of medieval Bulgaria

Trapezitsa is one of the three hills for which the old Bulgarian capital, Tarnovgrad (the medieval name of today’s Veliko Tarnovo), is famous . Located to the northwest of the town, it stands across from the neighboring hill Tsarevets – the..

published on 8/20/25 2:30 PM