Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria commemorates 100 years of severing of Bulgaria's Western outlands after end of WW1

Town of Bosilegrad, in present-day Serbia
Photo: far.rs

After the First World War /1914-1918/ and the decision of the Neuilly Peace Treaty in 1919, on November 6, 1920, the Serbian army occupied Bulgaria's Western outlands (129 settlements in the regions of Tsaribrod, Bosilegrad, and Strumica) with an area totalling ​​1,545 sq. km and a population of nearly 65,000 people. 

On the day of the occupation, the National Assembly of Bulgaria suspended its sittings as a token of protest and declared 3 days of national mourning. 
The black headscarf became a symbol of this occupation. The Bulgarian women in the occupied territories put on black headscarves ion their heads in sign of national mourning, and the border drawn in this way has been called by the local Bulgarians the "Black Border". 
In the occupied territories, Serbs closed down 7 schools and 45 churches.
Despite the pandemic, Bosilegrad Cultural and Information centre, GLAS Association and the Democratic Union of Bulgarians in Bosilegrad, Serbia, will symbolically mark the Day of the Western Outlands and the centenary of the occupation of these lands with a minute of silence to those who died at the border, the Bosilegrad Cultural and Information Centre has announced. 



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Minister of Labor and Social Policy Borislav Gutsanov

Borislav Gutsanov: There will be no increase in taxes or suspension of social payments

There will be no increase in taxes or suspension of social payments, Minister of Labor and Social Policy Borislav Gutsanov said  in an interview with public broadcaster BNT. Borislav Gutsanov stated that the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy..

published on 1/25/25 12:16 PM

Good conditions for winter sports and hiking in the Bulgarian mountains

Temperatures in the mountains are relatively high for the season and it is windy and foggy on higher ground. However, the conditions for winter sports and hiking in the mountains are good, reported BTA. On Friday it rained in some mountain areas,..

published on 1/25/25 10:54 AM

The Eurozone remains a priority for the government

The convergence report for joining the Eurozone will be requested after February 18, when the draft state budget is submitted. In an interview with public broadcaster BNT, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov stated that the draft budget..

published on 1/25/25 9:58 AM