Mladenov, Alexander, Andonov, Evgeni, Grozev, Krassimir The Bulgarian Air Force in the Second World War

Like many European air arms, the history of the Bulgarian Air Force between 1939 and 1945 was eventful and rather dramatic. A small country, located in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula, the Kingdom of Bulgaria entered into the fourth decade of the century as a still-neutral, but in fact strongly pro-German state. So it was not a surprise when it eventually joined the Axis on 1 March 1941, declaring war on both Britain and the U.S. six months later. In the course of the war the moderate and poorly-equipped air arm of late 1930s steadily matured during the wartime years into a small but capable force, able to mount fierce resistance to the Allied bomber raids against the countrys capital Sofia in late 1943 and early 1944. Only a few hours following the 9 September 1944 pro-Allied coup in Sofia, the Bulgarian air arm was immediately rushed into operation against the armed forces of the yesterday's partner - Nazi Germany. After the end of the war, Bulgaria fell in total dependency on the Soviet Union as a direct result from the 1944 Yalta agreement of "spheres of influence" division of Europe. The Bulgarian air force was radically reformed in the Soviet style and rapidly re-equipped with huge numbers of front-line aircraft, supplied by the new "brother in arms". This study features a large number of rare and previously unseen photographs accompanied by specially-commissioned colour artwork showing camouflage and markings.

In the course of the war, the moderate and poorly equipped air force of the late 1930s steadily matured into a small but capable air force that was able to resist the Allied bombing raids against the capital Sofia in late 1943 and early 1944. Just a few hours after the pro-Allied coup in Sofia on 9 September 1944, the Bulgarian Air Force was immediately deployed against the armed forces of the former ally - the German Reich. After the end of the war, Bulgaria was completely dependent on the Soviet Union as a direct result of the Yalta Agreement of 1944 on the division of spheres of influence in Europe. The Bulgarian Air Force was radically reformed in the Soviet style and quickly equipped with a large number of aircraft supplied by its new brother in arms. This study features a large number of rare and previously unpublished photographs, accompanied by colour aircraft profiles showing paint schemes and markings of the aircraft.