The Bulgarian Exarchate in the occupied Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (1941-1944)

Abstract

Once Bulgaria occupied Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, the government developed an ambitious and expensive action plan, which aimed at the administrative, economic, and cultural integration of the Greek provinces into the Bulgarian state as an indivisible part of it. For the successful implementation of this plan, the active participation of key actors and stakeholders of the social and political sphere was of paramount importance. The aim of this paper is to provide a concise presentation of the role the Bulgarian Exarchate acquired during this period, utilizing primary and secondary sources.