Two events on February 7 left lasting marks on Bulgaria’s history — one in the geography of liberation, the other in the soundwaves reaching Bulgarian ears from London.
February 7, 1878 — Pomorie Is Liberated from Ottoman Rule
Pomorie, on the Black Sea coast, was liberated by the Russian army during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. The town, historically known for salt production, maritime trade, and church life, entered the modern Bulgarian period as part of the wider liberation of southeastern Bulgaria. Coastal towns like Pomorie carried special importance because they connected local economies with the Black Sea, shipping routes, fisheries, and salt works.
Liberation was not only a military event; it opened a path toward new municipal institutions, Bulgarian schools, and participation in the political life of the emerging state. The date remains part of Pomorie’s local memory and its relationship with the broader national story. February 7 reminds us that liberation unfolded across many communities, each with its own geography, economy, and sense of identity.
February 7, 1940 — The BBC Airs Its First Bulgarian-Language Broadcast
The BBC aired its first Bulgarian-language radio broadcast, beginning a long history of Bulgarian-language international broadcasting from London. The service became especially important during the Second World War and later during the Cold War, when listeners in Bulgaria sought news, analysis, and perspectives beyond the official media environment. Radio crossed borders in ways that newspapers and books often could not.
For many Bulgarians, foreign broadcasts became a source of information, curiosity, and sometimes hope, even when listening carried social or political risk. The BBC Bulgarian service continued for decades and became part of the country’s media memory. February 7, 1940 marks a moment when sound, language, diplomacy, and journalism began linking Bulgarian audiences with a wider world under extraordinary historical pressure.
See what happened on February 8, or go back to February 6. Discover more of the country through our Bulgaria From Above series and travel guides.
