Remembering Tsar Boris - A KR Bulgaria AAR

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------


~ The Treaty of Jerusalem ~


Vitosha Nature Park​

------------------------------------------------

During the war, Bulgaria was merely an associated partner with the Axis alliance. Connections were made on both sides when Bulgaria entered the war. Diplomatic relations soared with the capture of Istanbul and the drive into Anatolia. The Bulgarian breakthrough in Anatolia and the capture of Turkish homelands wrecked the Turkish Empire’s chance of winning the war against the Axis; who were visibly struggling against the armies of the Sultan.

The Turkish military government, before the surrender, have made arrangements with the Germans on the transportation of the Ottoman family. The Germans have sent a cruiser to Cyprus and made a journey to Malta with a stop-over at Crete. There, the Germans have placed the royal family temporarily before their eventual return to their empire.

The Germans have requested to send their representative to Jerusalem. The Bulgarians have considered the request. The Germans were still their friends, but the Axis members were very hesitant. The Axis did not want any German meddling when the claimed lands were for the taking. The Germans took this as a major slight, especially from the Bulgarians, whom they regarded as one of their good ally.

The members of the conference do not want to give more time to the Ottoman family and their Germans benefactors: they have gone straight to the point. The conference unanimously decided that the Ottoman Empire will cease to exist; all titles and rights and privileges of the Ottoman Dynasty and their nobility will be withdrawn.

The lands of the Ottomans will be divided between the four victorious countries: Egypt, the main aggressor will receive the Sinai, Palestine (with Jordan), and Syria; the Hashemite Arabia receives all lands not claimed by Egypt from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf, from their pre-war borders to the River Euphrates; Persia receives Hakkari from the north down to the River Euphrates, and push left towards Mosul and El-Hillah.

The Tsar claimed the rest of the lands including all the Aegean islands. The Tsar then proposed to create the Tsardom of Anatolia, the Empire of Romania, and the establishment of the Kingdom of Armenia from the Bulgarian share of lands. The Arabs, however, don’t have much to say. Bulgaria can do whatever it likes on those lands whether they agree or disagree, as the Bulgarians currently control portions of their claims. The resurrection of Romania raised their brows, but they find no good reason to oppose the Tsar.



To finalise the pie-slicing, all side of the negotiation have confirm or re-confirm their recognition of the others’ claims. Egypt and the Hashemites received their share as agreed with the Cairo Congress, and Persia’s gains were based on the Tehran meeting with the Arabs; all three sides’ claims were recognised by Bulgaria. Bulgaria’s land claims, the Tsar’s creation of Romania and Anatolia, and the independence of Armenia were recognised in return by the three Axis powers.

To keep Jerusalem from cracking, the conference has also promised to stamp out any Turkish and Kurdish nationalism, and prohibited themselves from supporting it. The former is targeted to Bulgaria and Persia, while the latter is to the Arab states. The Axis powers also promise no recognition on any other Armenia - Menshevik-controlled Armenia in particular.


The Mensheviks in Georgia (or Transcaucasia as they call it) conquered Armenia.
They are now at war against the Cossacks in the north.

In addition, Egypt promised privileges on Christian pilgrims within the Bulgarian tsardom (plus her sister tsardoms). Special travel and resident permits will be issued to these certain pilgrims that will be effective along the designated Jaffa-Jerusalem zone.


Bulgaria is now the de-facto Christian representative in the Holy Lands, not Russia.
This was achieved without storming the Holy City like in the ancient times

The Arabs also promised to help the Persians with the war effort against the Turkmens. The Bulgarians, being outside the Axis alliance, was spared from making the same promise. Instead, they pledge diplomatic support and will close down any relations with the Turkmens (if they have any in the first place).

Thus concludes the Treaty of Jerusalem. After the historic signing of the treaty, the Tsar visited the Church of the Resurrection (aka Church of the Holy Sepulchre) with all the political and military higher-ups. The news spread all over the tsardoms. The Treaty of Jerusalem have concerned Berlin on losing an ally, and have another ally becoming too powerful and too wily for its own good. However, finishing the war against the Syndicalists is a more pressing concern. As for the Ottoman family, they continue with their official statement that they shall return back to their lands they rightfully own.


Ottoman Coat of Arms

------------------------------------------------

The victorious Tsar was welcomed home with huge crowds of his adoring subjects watching the Tsar and his personal cavalry squadron trots through the victory parade. A victory feast was held, and decorations were given away to distinguished officers and soldiers. His exploits were spelled out on the papers; the march into Tsarigrad, and Operation Tervel – the drive towards Basrah and the capture of Baghdad. The Tsar was unassailable. With this power he has gathered, he put the Jerusalem Treaty into work.




Vastanovyavane na Rimska imperiya
(Restoration of the Roman Empire)

The old empire known as the (Eastern) Roman Empire was revived. A state that was long dead for nearly five centuries. The Tsar went to Constantinople and was crowned Imperator na Rimska imperiya by the Patriarch himself. A parade was held both in Tsarigrad and in Sofia. Many common people, both in Bulgaria and in the sister tsardoms saw it as appropriate; the expulsion of the Turkish from the mainland and the City then the restoration of the Empire was a natural and rightful path. Many advocates within the government and the church have proclaimed it as the empire's third form: first, Latin; second, Greek; and now, Bulgarian. The Bulgarians were fortunate to have a convenient coincidence with the ordinal, third; as the phrase the Third Empire both means the Third Bulgarian Empire and also the Third Roman Empire.


The Personal Cavalry Squadron accompanying the new emperor

But with all the celebrating and the festivities, resistance was made both in and outside the empire. The Axis nations were the first to recognise this empire and now address the Tsar as Imperator in their official letters and statements, but Europe didn't follow suit. The Syndicalists, of course, doesn't deal with reactionaries, Germany still holds the Ottoman family and refuse to recognise the new empire, Austria-Hungary mirrored German policy, North Italy (under control by a Hapsburg) copied Austria-Hungary, and Russia still holds the pretension that they are still the Third Rome. Later on, the Entente decided to recognise the new empire as a political move to sway it away from Mitteleuropa. Most foreign news agents, particularly in the America and the Entente, addressed him as 'emperor' but called it the Bulgarian Empire.

Within the tsardoms, nationalists feared that the new empire would effectively put them into complete submission. The restrictions and the Bulgarian tsar as their head of state would only mean that these countries are under personal union of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha king rather than subordinate to the Bulgarian state itself. The new Imperial government freshly made in Tsarigrad is a grave threat as the main power of the empire is that the boundaries included all tsardoms under His Majesty’s control. Therefore, Bulgaria, Rumania, Serbia, Greece, and Anatolia are all part of the empireand the Imperial government then can impose its will on all the subjects within the empire. In contrary with the previous arrangement, the tsardoms are legally equal to each other with Tsar Boris as their king. They held no illusions; Tsarigrad would be a mere extension of the Bulgarian state.

Out of all the tsardoms, the Greeks took more offence than the others. It is them that are the successors of the empire, it is them that should own Constantinople. The only compensation that they could get is Smyrna and the Aegean islands, and privilege access on resettling within the Imperial district.

Surprisingly, some figures in Sofia are also wary of the Tsar's power in Tsarigrad. While the Tsar is restricted by the constitution and the political landscape in Sofia, Tsarigrad is an open flat field where His Majesty can mould it to his liking. However, these fears from Sofia didn't appear in reality. The “Empire” only consisted of Constantinople, Prusa, and Nicomedia. This area is known as the “Imperial District”. The Imperator of Romania is technically a higher title, but the Imperial government does appeared to be an extension of the Bulgarian government in Sofia and relies solely on the Bulgarian army for security and to keep the tsardoms in line.


Tsarigrad: under Bulgarian control at last.
Queen of Cities. Heart of the new Empire.

------------------------------------------------

On other agendas of the Jerusalem Treaty, the so-called 'Tsardom of Anatolia' would be created and also subordinate to the empire. Based in Ankyra (renaming of the cities continue), the Bulgarians realised that a nation of sort should be made. The original name, Turcia was immediately rejected. Many in Sofia were pessimistic on this endeavour; swallowing such a large kingdom and assimilate it into Bulgarian language and customs. The government in Ankyra were made up of Orthodox individuals, Bulgarians from the mainland and Greek minorities in particular. The Tsar still insists on controlling and the Bulgarification of Anatolia and the Imperial District.

Farther to the east, the Kingdom of Armenia was established with a new provisional government placed in Gaziantep. It was made up of exiles from Beria's Armenia eagerly waiting for their return to their homeland. The new kingdom was created based on the negotiations conducted after Jerusalem. The claims were deemed ridiculous by some in the Bulgarian side, but practicality won in the end. Armenia would be their buffer state in the east, and the less lands given to Anatolia, the better.


Rightful Armenia proposed by the exiles


Left/Maroon: Tsardom of Anatolia
Right/Grey: Kingdom of Armenia under Bulgarian temporary protection

------------------------------------------------

Expansion of the Third Bulgarian Empire

Vienna wasn't blind nor deaf the entire time. They were watching the war against the Ottomans the entire time, and worried with a strong Bulgaria with the establishment of the Third Empire. Vienna sent a team to Albania to propose an alliance against the Bulgarian Empire. The Bulgarians acted fast. They have assembled an army at the border, ready to strike. War was declared soon enough. The Bulgarian cavalries attack to the north and south of Tirana to close down any escape routes while the Imperator's cavalry and the rest of the army assaults the city.



Shkoder and Pristina was given to Serbia, Korce (northern Epirus) was given to Greece, and the rest was annexed to Bulgaria. For the first time since the ancient times, the country now borders the three seas; the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea, and the Adriatic Sea. It is not a Bulgarian Empire if it doesn't!



After the stick, Tsar Boris (or rather Imperator Boris) then start to throw his weight on the sister tsardoms with the carrot. Knowing that these tsardoms have claims outside the empire, the Imperator took advantage of that to gain political loyalties within the non-Bulgarian tsardoms and expand the Bulgarian empire's boundaries at the same time.

Rumania was the first to receive this promise. Moldova and the Transylvanian lands all the way to the River Tizsa was promised to them. The Rumanians immediately replied with positive reaction. All that in exchange for Dobrich, Constantza, and Sulina was a good bargain for them.



Serbia was next. They were less eager than the Rumanians; losing the lands beyond the Great Morava River with the promise of taking the rest of Greater Serbia. The Serbians still took it with positive reaction.



Tsardom of Greece is now the most aloof of the three, due to the recent unfolding events. Sofia tried to fix the dropping relations between the two tsardoms by giving them the Aegean islands, including Cyprus, and the province of Smyrna. They were then promised Crete and the Ionian islands. Relations have warmed up just enough, however, the Greeks are pessimistic on taking the client state, Crete, from their German masters.



The Imperator's trip to the sister tsardoms was considered as a diplomatic coup. The Bulgarian Empire was consolidated enough with a single stroke. Imperator Boris remained untouchable within the Empire: but within the Bulgarian leadership, there are doubts on the so-called “diplomatic master stroke” penned by the press. With the exception of Moldova - under Ukrainian control, the claimed lands are under either Austria-Hungary or Germany's control, most of them are from the former. There are only two options the Imperator can take: he, either, let his iron promises rust, ruining his reputation and control of the empire; or to wage war against the Empire of Austria-Hungary sooner or later to fulfil the promises. Both options are unfortunate.

Albania is now gone. Vienna became more worried on its now strong and aggressive neighbour. Berlin is still at war with the Syndicalists. The dual kingdom hoped that the Bulgarians are now satisfied with their conquests.


------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------​

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------


~ Eye of the Storm ~

Extracts from the “Light Army Operations” by Ivan Vulkov

“…paired with infiltration methods on tactical level, the army must implement a massed assault when committing offensives on the strategic level.”

“Multiple targets must be selected prior to an offensive, targeting weak points in the enemy defences. Attacks must be concentrated on these selected points to gain local superiority and achieve a breakthrough along the enemy lines.”

“…thus, it is imperative that excellent knowledge of the enemy formations, its positions and dispositions, on both the front line troops and its reserves. Again, I repeat, to achieve better outcomes on our offensives, excellent intelligence is imperative.”

“Timetables must be observed strictly.”

“Implementing concentration attacks consisting of several divisions from different army corps and armies would have to be fall in strictly within the agreed timetable agreed […] This would maintain the coordination of the army command which is implementing the grand battle plan.”

“As I mentioned [before], to promote the effectiveness of our offensives, each and every one of our soldiers must be instilled with discipline and Bulgarian élan.”

“…with this, I argue, the flexibility of our formations will give advantage […] the operations that we shall conducting will be more effective if we allow flexibility by giving our soldiers, [NCOs] in particular, the ability to follow their own initiatives.”



------------------------------------------------

Peace finally reigned in the empire after exhausting and bloody wars against the Belgrade Pact and the Ottoman Empire. The once healthy reserve pool of potential soldiers was gradually chipped away after bloodshed, a wave of economic growth in the home front, and the dire need for Bulgarian citizens to fuel the state machineries of the sister tsardoms. The Imperial District and the Tsardom of Anatolia were the states that took most of the available workforce in Bulgaria. 2,700 available manpower remained after the war against the Turks and Albanians. The Fatherland is running out of able-bodied men. Hopefully, the Tsar would be satisfied with the conquests.


Bulgarian military remain dependent on German weaponry without its own military industry

With peace, comes consolidation. Pro-Bulgarian, pro-Orthodoxy and anti-minorities legislations were the order of the day. Enforcement and the resulting repression differs from each region.

Resettlement programs were executed for Bulgarian citizens to solidify their hold on the lands they took during the three previous wars. The treatment towards the former-Pact's three nationalities were lenient. The former-Rumanian lands were the first to be turned into Bulgarian majority with relative ease. The resettlement programs in the former Greek, Albanian, and Serbian lands still on-going. Surprisingly, Adrianople achieved Bulgarian majority in just a year, perhaps due to its close proximity to the country proper, and the closeness of the Imperial District to where the Turkish have migrated. Speaking of the Imperial District, the District's own program was a difficult task to fulfil. The Imperial government even allow non-Bulgarian Orthodox, like the Greeks, to settle in the District to counter the larger Turkish proportion.


Settlers were often bundled together and travel on mass to save costs since the programs are very expensive.

Resettlement programs undertaken by Ankyra flopped as the newly annexed Bulgarian lands and the Imperial District were a more attractive option. This was compensated with a discriminatory citizenship policy of giving instant citizenship to Orthodox minorities and to any new converts. More measures were made in Anatolia and the District such as the recruitment drive of the new Imperial Roman Army towards the homeless and the poor, with promise of better pay and living standards, in exchange for citizenship and conversion: A cruel parody of the Ottoman Janissary.


The Imperial Army and the Anatolian Army were merely military police force to keep the rest in line, rather than a proper army that fights abroad.
These two armies remain small in numbers in comparison to the other tsardoms.

On top of all that, the Imperial government, suggested by Sofia, have passed a law that the entire empire would have Bulgarian as the language to be taught in schools along with the national language.

Anti-nationalists legislations were imposed against the Turkish and Kurdish, in accordance to the Jerusalem Treaty. One of these were the the dubbed 'Heathen Tax' proposed by a National Social Movement MP which somehow was passed with cross-party support. The idea of raising revenue and repression of religious minorities was just as appealing to the Bulgarians as it was to the Turkish. Muslims and Jews now have to pay more. Infamous legislation such as placing Bulgarian as the official language of the District and the Tsardom of Anatolia, and the banning of the Fez which resulted in widespread but disorganised revolt which was called the 'Fez War', coined by an American journalist stationed in Tsarigrad.

The Fez War was the most threatening event in the post-Jerusalem Anatolia. However, the peacetime situation of the Bulgarian Empire and the decentralised nature of the revolt have made the revolt difficult to succeed on anything against the “Prussian-esque” Bulgarian Army. Significant amount of Bulgarian forces were deployed, backed by the three former-Pact armies, to crush the rebels. The largest rebel force, under the command of Ali Fuat Pasha, have managed to march towards Ankyra, but to be defeated by the Bulgarian 5th Army Corps and the Rumanian cavalry. The riots in Tsarigrad, Smyrna, and Ankyra were crushed. Even with the aftermath of the Fez War, the Anatolian government remained weak outside of Ankyra.


While the origin of the revolt was the banning of the Fez, the Fez War became
a catch-all event where all sort of anti-Bulgarian sentiments have been poured into.

------------------------------------------------

One of the consequences of an agrarian country industrialising is the often difficult adjustment of the people on its changing country. The growth and expansion of the industry have swelled the urban proletarian. Trade unions have increased in numbers, and their membership have too as well. Trade union power have become a concern when an organised industrial action by the syndicates have occurred. Many in the parliament quickly denounce the strikes as some suggested that they were perhaps secretly sponsored by the Socialist countries like Ukraine – a Totalist country right next door. It is also thought that legalising the trade unions would give the Leftists a leverage in the future. Both the Agrarians and the Democrats agreed not to tolerate these lazy professional complainers. The police, backed by the 2nd Corps, quelled the strikes and round up the ringleaders.





------------------------------------------------

1st Head Directorate (foreign intelligence) of the Darzhavna Sigurnost have been very busy throughout the year gathering data regarding their northern neighbour as ordered by the Emperor himself. It wasn't Ukraine that they were spying though.

The Austrian Army consists of approximately 39 divisions, with an airforce of two fighter squadrons and 6 bomber squadrons. Its navy has 6 battleships. The Bulgarian military are significantly smaller on all three branches.



The Hungarians, the first to bear any Bulgarian attack, are smaller. 29 divisions and 6 air squadrons. The Bulgarians can easily match this force with the Serbians and Rumanians backed them up.



While not part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, North Italy is under Hapsburg control. They have 30 divisions that could give a headache to the Bulgarians.



During the last 4 years, centralisation became the agenda of the Dual Monarchy. The Kingdom of Bohemia was annexed into the Austrian Empire. The Kingdom of Hungary annexed Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Only the Polish kingdom of Galicia-Lodomeria was left untouched. The Italian king became wary of the centralisation, hoping Vienna doesn't get any ideas of integrating Italy into the Empire.



Winter continues to be harsh even until the March of 1940. Any war planned against the Viennese Empire has to be delayed until the Summer season.



The Emperor's capabilities have improved after the three wars during his reign. Experiences gained from battles where he took command, the defence of Dobrich and the Battle of Tsarigrad were the notable ones. The mountainous geography of the Balkans and Anatolia have given him the skill to fight on mountain regions. This would be proved very useful on fighting on the Carpathians.



By May 1940, nearly a year after the surrender of the Ottoman Empire, the Emperor have embarked on another war, a war against the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The three sister tsardoms are beside him eager to fight to regain their rightful lands. The military and the political leadership are less eager, as they see the northern empire as an ally against the Syndicalists. The people and the soldiers, in contrary, support their still highly popular Emperor and follows him to war.

Operation Asen was put into motion by the 11th, with the goal to envelop the forces in Transylvania. Asen achieve its first victory against the Hungarians at the Battle of Alba Yulia. The Rumanian cavalry and the 3rd Cavalry stormed the breached and race to Bistria.


Operation Asen

------------------------------------------------

On the Western Front, fears from Bulgarian statesmen have formed into reality as the French, backed by their British allies, have burst through the German defences and crossed the River Moselle. Not just that, more reports will soon arrive in Sofia that French tanks continue to roll into Luxembourg and Metz.




One of the prides of Socialist engineering: the French Char B1 tank.
The tank was a nasty shock for the Germans, who thought that the Syndicalists
couldn't build a tank that could rival, let alone defeat, the Panzer III and Panzer IV

The Germans showed no pretension of strength and asked aid from their allies; The Austro-Hungarians and the Bulgarians. Vienna and Budapest became sharply divided on the recent development. The Austrians preferred sending troops (under German banner) to bolster the Rhine defences, while the Hungarians preferred crushing the aggressive Bulgarians. The Austrians retorted that the Bulgarians are minuscule compare to them. Vienna only sent a paltry force towards the south-east, and sent “volunteer armies” west and towards North Italy.



Sofia is in the same position too. Not sending any would be damaging, and declaring war would be too much. After negotiations with Vienna and Budapest, a volunteer force with supplies were sent across the Hapsburg Empire under the white flag.



The help from the two empires was appreciated, but Berlin expected a declaration of war just like it was previously. The state of the Central Power alliance is in shambles. All eyes darted towards the Bulgarian Emperor.


------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
​

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------

~ King of the Balkans ~

Revolutionaries in Montenegro sponsored by Belgrade rose up against their Austrian overlords to reunite with their Serbian brothers and sisters. The Austrians made themselves clear that they will not give up Montenegro. The rebellion was crushed, but it will not be in vain.



The Bulgarians have burst through the defences and the cavalry have reached Bistrita, and was soon reinforced by the infantry following on their wake. The Hungarians in Transylvania were trapped. Operation Asen was a success. It was soon found out that there are four divisions in there. The trapped forces made their last stand in Braila.



But in Serbia, the Serbians and the Greeks are struggling against the Hungarian advance. They have separated Serbia from the Empire. The defenders were ordered to breakout by puncturing overstretched invaders. The Greek army counter-attacked towards Krusevac. In Transylvania, the Bulgarian and Rumanian forces have reached the River Tisza. Hungarian counter-attacks were repelled with substantial reinforcements.




Bulgarian mortar team

The Hungarian offensive into Serbia turned into a disaster. Seven divisions were trapped when Novi Sad was captured. A Hungarian counter-attack was launched, but the noose was tightened with an attack on Petrovgrad. The encirclement was sealed intact as the allied forces stood firm in Petrovgrad. The seven division army evaporated, with a last stand in Bor.

The Bulgarians in the north will try to eliminate the enemy in Transylvanian lands, once and for all.



Operation Omurtag was green lighted in the 25th of June 1940, to destroy Hungarian resistance in Bosnia & Herzegovina, and in Montenegro. The First Cavalry Divison will be the spearhead of the operation; to advance towards the Adriatic. The Rumanian army heads west to resist any enemy incursion in southern Serbia.


Operation Omurtag


The 1st Cavalry Division, commander by, His Imperial Majesty, Imperator Boris,
is the only unit in the Bulgarian Army to be armed with tanks – the German Panzer III.
And so, it is no surprise that this unit is often at the vanguard on many offensives.

By the 10th of July, enemy forces in the targeted region were surrounded. Six divisions were trapped, consisting of a mixture of both Austrian and Hungarian soldiers. The forces in Croatia were too weak to mount any effective counter-attacks. The allied forces then squeezed the Hungarians like a vice, with the Bulgarians, Serbians, and Greeks from the north, and the Rumanians in the south. One division managed to break out of the pocket and escaped, but the rest were destroyed. The remnants of the resistance made their last stand in Dubrovnik. They surrendered in the 27th of August.



15th of September. Operation Telerig was launched to destroy Hungarian forces in the centre: The last line of defence between the Bulgarians and the capital, Budapest.


Operation Telerig

9 days after the start of Telerig, the enemy's centre was surrounded and in the process of destroying it. The Hungarian forces in the north attacked Debrecen to rescue the trapped force, but the Bulgarian corps stood their ground and reinforcements arrived to repel the rescue attempt.



In the 2nd of October, the allied forces commanded by the Emperor have assaulted the capital. The Austrian garrison fought bitterly, but they were no match in numbers and quality.




Bulgarian troops in the outskirts of Budapest

Two months later, two days before Christmas Day, the Hungarian Army was routed. The government surrendered without contacting Vienna. The remnants of the army fled to Austria and continue to fought under the Austrian Army. In the north, Bulgarian forces are on their way to capture Krakow and Lwow in the Kingdom of Galicia-Lodomeria. After the fall of the two cities, the kingdom surrendered to the Empire.



By the time of Operation Telerig, the Austrians have given up defending the western German border, and withdrew to fight the Bulgarians instead. The loss of the Austrian volunteer armies have significantly weaken the Rhine defences. By January 1941, French tanks have crossed the Rhine, and captured the cities of Muenster and Dusseldorf. The tired and disorganised Essen defenders stood no chance against the storm of Char B1 tanks advancing towards the city. Morale was high among the Syndicalists after the Rhine breakthrough. Many believed that they'll be in Berlin soon enough.



------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
​