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190 The Early Stages of The First Balkan War

Writer's picture: Eric D. HalseyEric D. Halsey
Aug 29, 20231 min read

The war, decades in the making, to expel the Ottoman Empire from Europe has begun. In this episode, we look at the armies and societies going to war as well as covering the first days of Bulgarian operations in Thrace.



Major Characters in this Episode

Ivan Gueshov

Nizam Pasha

General Dimitriev


Timeline for this Episode

  • 1912, Oct 5th - Bulgaria and Greece declare war on the Ottoman Empire.

  • 1912, Oct 5th - Bulgarian forces capture Gorna Djumaya (modern Blagoevgrad)

  • 1912, Oct 7th - Serbia declares war on the Ottoman Empire.

  • 1912, Oct 7-15th - Bulgarian units take the area around the Arda River and repel Ottoman counterattacks from the 15th-25th.

  • 1912, Oct 8-13th - The 1st and 3rd Bulgarian armies break through Ottoman lines to capture Lozengrad. The 2nd army surrounds Edirne.

  • 1912, Oct 11th - Bulgarian units capture Kardzhali.

  • 1912, Oct 12th - Bulgarian units capture Smolyan.


A map showing the state of the Balkan Peninsula prior to the war
A map showing the state of the Balkan Peninsula prior to the war

A map from SGP Cartography showing the proposed division of Macedonia
A map from SGP Cartography showing the proposed division of Macedonia

A map showing the direction of the Balkan forces in the initial stages of the war.
A map showing the direction of the Balkan forces in the initial stages of the war.

A depiction of the Bulgarian attack of Lozengrad.
A depiction of the Bulgarian attack of Lozengrad.

Likely the most famous painting of the war depicting a Bulgarian bayonet charge.
Likely the most famous painting of the war depicting a Bulgarian bayonet charge.



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