site.btaMay 9, 1945: Bulgaria Marks VE Day

Festive rallies took place all over Bulgaria on the occasion of the end of WW II in Europe and Germany's surrender on May 9, 1945.

In Sofia, a thanksgiving prayer service in the morning was followed by a huge rally in front of the St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Attending the rally were the Regents of Bulgaria Venelin Ganev, Tsvyatko Boboshevski and Todor Pavlov, Prime Minister Kimon Georgiev, Exarch Stefan, the Fatherland Front (F.F.) cabinet members, the members of the Allied Control Commission headed by the Commission's Deputy Chairman, Colonel General Sergei Biryuzov, and representatives of the foreign military mission and the Diplomatic Corps.

Festivities were also held in Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Ruse and many other cities countrywide. Everywhere the celebrations attracted members of the public en masse, local government officials and guests from Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union.

Everywhere the celebrations attracted members of the public en masse, local government officials and guests from Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union.  

Messages of gratitude were read out and cabled to Stalin, Churchill, Tito and the Commander of the Bulgarian 1st Army, Lieutenant General Vladimir Stoytchev.

Following are excerpts from the English-language coverage of the May 9, 1945 observances of the Victory in Europe Day in Sofia in the May 10, 1945 issue of the Information Bulletin of the Press and Propaganda Department of the Ministry of Propaganda (the predecessor of today's BTA):

"On the occasion of the victory of the democratic nations over Fascist Germany, yesterday, at 11.a.m., in the cathedral-monument "Al. Nevski" thanksgiving service was conducted by His Beatitude Exarch Stefan I, assisted by priests. At the service were present official persons and many citizens.

After the service, His Beatitude delivered a speech in which among other things he said: "This year, the Lord's passover coincides with a great joy. The war is over. The cannons will stop vomit death and humanity will give itself to peaceful labour".

After that, His Beatitude respected the memory of the victims, which the Russian, British and American nations gave in the name of liberty.

* * *

The celebration of the capitulation of Germany in Sofia yesterday was great and solemn.

The government of F.F. Bulgaria called a meeting at 5 p.m. on the "Alexander Nevski " square. Over 200,000 people were present. The square and the streets were overcrowded. Young people had climbed upon trees and roofs. All were beaming, enthusiastic. From all sides one would hear: "Long live the greatest victory"; "Long live the 1st Bulgarian army"; "Long live Marshal Stalin". Applauses; the choirs of the F.F. organizations were singing; national dances were performed in the open. At 5.10 p.m. the Bulgarian Prime-Minister Mr. Kimon Georgiev made the following declaration:

'Citizens,

Today while we are gathered here in the capital the heart of Bulgaria - the whole Bulgarian people throughout the country gather on public squares to celebrate a great and joyful event, namely - the end of the war in Europe and on seas and oceans around our continent, with a great victory over the enemy of the whole of humanity.

This victory was achieved by the heroic efforts and the sacrifice of innumerable human lives and war material of the United, democratic and freedom-loving nations, thus putting an end to the most shameful and bloody 6 years human tragedy.'

On this happy day, the government of Bulgarian made the following proclamation to the Bulgarian nation:

'[. . .]  The terrible war thunder today is replaced by the rejoicing sound of humanity, on the occasion of the most glorious and great victory - victory over tyranny and oppression.

Together with the entire world, we witness the greatest event in world's history with great enthusiasm and joy. At the present historical moment, the entire Bulgarian nation expresses its gratitude to the great Allies who abolished the Hitlerite oppression. In the first place we are especially grateful to the Red army, not only because it has especially great merits for the destruction of the German military machine, but because, thanks to its support, the nation on the 9th of Sept. overthrew the Hitlerite oppression and the government was thus placed in the hands of the people. Bulgaria incorporated her efforts into those of all freedom-loving nations and today, together with them, celebrates the achieved victory over the enemy. At this moment we should express our great joy, since we discovered our right path and for the first time in our new history, arranged ourselves on the side of the fighters for liberty - and at the same time we stand by all Slavic brothers, who are all united against their centurial enemy.

We are celebrating today the heroic deeds of the First Bulgarian army, which participated to the very end in the struggle against the Hitlerite hordes.

At this supreme moment the government of F.F. Bulgaria warmly appeals to the entire nation to stand enthusiastically united under the banner of the F.F., thus we will achieve new victories in our economic and cultural front. [. . .]'

The speech and the proclamation of the Prime-Minister were frequently interrupted by great applauses and "hurrah". His words were accompanied by unanimous approvals.

When leaving the square the Regents, the Ministers, the members of the Allied Control Commission, the foreign military and diplomatic missions and the generals were greatly applauded by the multitude, which in an unseen spontaneous manner expressed their joy at the victory over Fascism and the end of the war.

Then from the square thousands of people made an impressive manifestation along the streets. The joy of the Bulgarian people for the complete defeat of Fascism was great. The free expression of the citizens' delight was gratefully displayed and [illegible] formed a splendid parade of thousands of enthusiastic workers, who celebrated the triumph of the sacred human labour, liberty, justice and truth."