Soviet monuments symbolize the occupation by the Red Army and the repressions under the Stalinist regime for many; for others, they represent the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Since the Russian invasion on Ukraine, the debate on how to deal with these monuments has been reignited. On this History Stories Special, we look at the case from Bulgaria and ask whether or not Soviet monuments should be preserved or destroyed.
In World War II, after the German invasion in 1941, Bulgaria stood alongside Axis powers. However, Bulgaria did not send soldiers to the Eastern Front and refused to declare war on the Soviet Union. In August 1944, Bulgaria terminated their pact with Germany and declared neutrality.
The offer of an armistice from the Bulgarian side was rejected by Moscow. In September, the Soviet Union declared war on Sofia. With the invasion of the Red Army on September 9 and the seizure of power by Bulgaria's Communists, between 18,000 and 30,000 people, including clergy, journalists, former ministers, and landowners, were murdered in the first three months alone.
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