September 10 brings together two difficult moments in Bulgaria’s history. In 1919, the Bulgarian delegation received the draft Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine. In 1944, the new government established the People’s Militia.
September 10, 1919 — The draft Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine
On September 10, 1919, the Bulgarian delegation, led by Prime Minister Teodor Teodorov, received the harsh draft terms of the peace treaty from the Allied Powers at the Paris Peace Conference.
The final treaty was signed in November. It resulted in severe territorial losses, heavy reparations and military limitations. In Bulgarian historical memory, its consequences are associated with the Second National Catastrophe.
Why does Neuilly remain a symbol of national loss?
Receiving the draft was not the end of the negotiations, but it showed the direction of the terms being imposed on Bulgaria after the war. The document outlined restrictions affecting the country’s territory, finances and military capacity. September 10 therefore became part of the longer public discussion about the consequences of the war.
September 10, 1944 — The People’s Militia is established
Just one day after the September 9 coup, the newly formed government issued a decree dissolving the old state police force and replacing it with the People’s Militia.
The militia was initially composed of communist partisans and activists. It became a key instrument of the party for consolidating power and suppressing political opposition.
What did the creation of the People’s Militia mean?
Its establishment was an early step in reorganizing the security institutions after the political change. By dissolving the old police force and creating a new body, the state changed the way it maintained order and exercised power.
September 10 brings together two difficult stories: the terms imposed on Bulgaria after the war and the transformation of its internal institutions after the 1944 coup. Both left a lasting mark on the state and on the way Bulgarian society remembers the twentieth century.
To follow the events around this date, continue with September 9 or September 11. For more stories and places in Bulgaria, explore the Bulgaria From Above category.
