Thrace in Flames

SteveW

The promised Russian arbitration now came into play. This consisted mainly of the Russians telling the Bulgarian government to desist from any advance into Serb territory. The Bulgarians, although affronted, had no desire to carry on, exhausted and fearful. With the Russians flexing their diplomatic muscles, the Romanians held back- after all, with the Serbs now pulling back, the Bulgarians could fight on any front, and Russia's enmity was not needed right now.

And thus, on 12th August 1913, the Second Balkan War came to a close. Bulgaria was now the biggest nation in the Balkans, with Black Sea and Aegean coasts and ports. Prime Minister Vasil Radoslavov could now start to cut spending in military matters and try to realise his great dream: to turn Bulgaria into the economic powerhouse of the region, the Hegemon of the Balkans.
 
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SteveW

Bulgaria suddenly became the focus of a new Great Game. With the Powers keen on making a fast buck, her stability was fairly secure- Turkey and Greece would not dare attack, nor could Serbia at all.

Companies began to pour in hunting concessions. There were railways firms such as Britain's Great Western Railway and the Royal Bavarian State Railway, and firms like British American Tobacco and Germany's Reemtstma.

But the biggest investors were, unusually, not members of the Great Powers. Bulgaria's first car factory was started, but not yet brought into operation, in September 1913 by the Dutch Bij t'Vuur group. More unusual was the leasing of forests in Macedonia to a group from the Russian province of Finland named Nokia.

Greece was now boiling over. It was becoming increasingly clear that the Venizelists could not oust the monarchy without creating some serious destruction.
 

SteveW

On 18th September 1913, Venizelos was walking in Athens with his bodyguard when a royalist threw a grenade into the party. 4 were killed, but Venizelos survived, although he did lose his left foot.

Constantine's forces were now in control of Salonika, Corfu, Kefalonia, Samos and swathes of Thessaly. To boot, they were being funnelled arms from Bulgaria, who were happy enough to keep Greece weakened.

Royalty in that part of the world never had it easy, though. The new King of Albania was having enough trouble of his own.
 

Geordie

Ooh, new timeline! :)

This appears to be appealing to my baser, Bulgarwanking instincts :D


Presto said:
Aren't the Thracians going to be annoyed about being Bulgarian? They are Geek
Click to expand...

The Bulgarians got most of Thrace out of the First Balkan War, but subsequently lost it. The whole thing is far more complicated than the Thracians being Greek (i presume you meant Greek) - its all mixed up. Indeed, a map posted earlier this week by Abdul (I'll try to find the link) showed that Bulgaria was basically put in the wrong place altogether.


Regarding the Serbs at Adrianople: I've read that the Bulgarian Army did not have the artillery to take the citadel, and so a Serb detatchment (unsure of size) aided them. This was then one of the Serb claims - coupled with the creation of Albania - as to why they deserved a greater share of Macedonia than the treaty of London allowed, that share to come from the Bulgarian gains.
 

Jammy

Good update steve - have to say yet again, you've provided another good TL thats keeping me reading the whole time.
 
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