Every day in Bulgarian history holds a story worth remembering. In this recurring series, On This Day in Bulgaria, we look back at notable events, decisions, and milestones that happened on this date across the country’s history.
October 13, 1912 — Battle of Lyule Burgas Begins
Bulgarian forces clashed with the regrouped Ottoman Eastern Army at Lyule Burgas (Lüleburgaz) in one of the largest battles of the First Balkan War. The engagement lasted several days and involved hundreds of thousands of troops on both sides, resulting in a decisive Bulgarian victory. The scale of the fighting shocked European observers — it was one of the largest land battles on European soil since the Franco-Prussian War.
October 13, 1944 — Bulgarian Forces Help Liberate Belgrade
Bulgarian troops fighting alongside Yugoslav Partisan and Soviet forces participated in operations that contributed to the liberation of Belgrade from German occupation. The joint campaign demonstrated the rapid integration of the Bulgarian army into the Allied order of battle just weeks after the September 9 coup, and marked Bulgaria’s military contribution to the Allied victory in the Balkans.
Explore more of Bulgaria’s story on Bronicable, including our Bulgaria From Above series and our guides to the best of Bulgaria.
