Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

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.



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

Theodora Dimova

Talking about the communist past is more and more imperative if we want to protect our children

Bulgaria is still the only European country without a memorial to the victims of totalitarian regimes. Attention was once again called to this shameful fact, like a long untreated ulcer on the body of our society, on 1 June, when hundreds of people..

updated on 6/20/24 2:12 PM

Thracian treasures on display at J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles

Almost 100 exhibits from the Museum of History Iskra in Kazanlak will be put on display at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the US until the end of the year, Kazanlak municipality has announced on Facebook. The exposition in the US..

published on 6/20/24 11:04 AM
Dr Mustafa Haji, Grand Mufti of Bulgaria.

Eid is a time for compassion

People of the Muslim faith in Bulgaria are celebrating Eid. 'Kurban', an Arabic word meaning 'approaching', signifies the efforts of Muslims to approach the mercy of Allah through animal sacrifice," said Dr Mustafa Haji, Grand Mufti of Bulgaria, in his..

published on 6/16/24 7:35 AM