What If Bulgaria Joined The Triple Entente? | Alternate History

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Bulgaria is often thought of as the smallest major player of the Great War, even smaller than Serbia who at least had a roll in starting the World War. Because of this Bulgaria is usually a second thought for most historians interested in the history of WWI, but there's a lot more to the little Tsardom than most would think.
Coming right off the first and second Balkan Wars which reshaped the geopolitics of the Balkans, and likely contributed to the ultimate outbreak of World War One, Bulgaria was in a strategically valuable position for both the Triple Entente and Central Powers, while at the same time the outcome of the Balkan Wars had left Bulgaria eager to reclaim lost lands, lands which now laid within members of the Triple Entente, the Central Powers, and even in Neutral Countries like Greece and Romania.
Germany and the Central Powers were ultimately the ones able to convince Bulgaria to join their side, but what if that changed? What if in an alternate timeline Bulgaria joined the Triple Entente instead? How would Bulgaria joining the Allied Powers even be possible? Would Bulgaria changing sides somehow allow Germany to win WW1? Might the United States still get involved? And how will the borders of Europe be changed by this hypothetical what if?
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0:00 Intro
#WW1 #Bulgaria #History

[@MonsieurDean]

Play Enlisted for FREE on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PS5, and get your exclusive bonus now: playen.link/monsieurz If you enjoyed the video give it a like and share it around.

[@Ryce_Cord]

What if Spain Joined the Axis in WW2?

[@mightyx5441]

bruh your voice is too deep for how you look

[@somehistorynerd]

One thing, with all the concessions to Bulgaria, I think Russia would keep Constantinople, as that was their whole incentive to enter the war in the first place.

[@somehistorynerd]

Also, some lands in the middle east would be made another afghanistan-like buffer zone, either with france or by creating a new country, as the brits didn't want to step on the toes of russian claims.

[@alessandro_junior_007]

What if UNITA had won the Angolan Civil War ?

[@cadian122]

Bulgaria was a low key carry for the Central Powers... Beat down Serbia and Romania within a year lol

[@georgios_5342]

But then Bulgaria was easily defeated by the Greeks in the Battle of Skra. War fatigue? Underestimated the opponent? Maybe. The outcome was still a loss

[@domaspauliukevicius5088]

You mean Germany?

[@Cyanduck485]

@@domaspauliukevicius5088 even though Germany was carrying 80% of the central powers war efforts Bulgaria made up 15% percent of the efforts

[@cadian122]

@@domaspauliukevicius5088 Of course Germany was the main hard Carry but Bulgaria was surprisingly very effective

[@MonsieurDean]

Prussia of the Balkans.

[@kaissersreich]

Bulgaria was lowkey very underrated in WW1

[@aly-zy4th]

Just made nothing but bad political choices and kept on joining the losing side.

[@shzarmai]

Indeed

[@WeWuzSqueebles]

My man really said "I'm gonna reveal my face in the intro and not acknowledge it" and refused to elaborate any further.

[@MonsieurDean]

*CORRECT*

[@Alpssener]

@@MonsieurDeanmaaan why did you block it

[@Gizmoblade_]

A lot of people underestimate how op Bulgaria was in ww1 lets use an example Serbia may have been weak before Bulgarians but Bulgaria rolled over Romania incredibly quickly. They fought greece and the uk alone and still managed to hold out for quite a while Now i am not saying they where the strongest far from it but they very easily dominated the balkans (for not so first time in history) -love Me a simple historian

[@slavchomarinov9909]

In 1912 we had the 5th biggest army with n the world from a population of just 5 million. In WW1 we had the biggest army in the world on a per capita basis.

[@_MilanS]

I doubt Bulgaria would beat Serbia in a 1v1. If Serbia held back Austria Hungary's far more superior army, it could definitely do the same to Bulgaria.

[@th3radlad_727]

@@_MilanSnah Bulgaria could easily do it the same way they almost did so Serbia AND Greece in the 2nd Balkan war before Romania and the ottomans joined in

[@_MilanS]

@@th3radlad_727 That is the most Bulgarian view I've ever seen

[@Adam_Johns]

Ah crap I didn't know he had a face.

[@MonsieurDean]

Howdy.

[@michelarsenault9644]

He be looking like a chad from gigachadland

[@Adam_Johns]

@@MonsieurDean World view changed

[@tiaelago-oretukaumunika7017]

@@MonsieurDean youre a good lookin man, brother😂

[@StarsBarsAndCheese]

Same

[@georgios_5342]

Sorry to my Bulgarian bros for making Greater Bulgaria impossible. We never intended for Skopia to be this way, we only wanted our own lands. Greetings from Greece 😬

[@MonsieurDean]

Balkan fellowship, it's rare but beautiful.

[@georgios_5342]

@@MonsieurDean Oh yeah, I feel for my brothers. They lost their lands, we lost our lands, everyone lost their lands. We have the same experiences, we should work together to heal the damage in the future. Afterall, when Bulgaria wanted to join the EU, Greece was the first member to eagerly say yes.

[@agno3113]

@@georgios_5342 even tho i am a big patriot i would have to agree with you. Greece and Romania are the only neighbours that i don't hate. (but still Edrine and North Macedonia are Bulgaria)

[@Silver_Prussian]

If the people of the balkans could just sit on a table bring some rakija and ouzo we would be able to go to the moon together

[@redcrown5154]

@@agno3113 not all, but if you give us albania i'm fine with giving you lads macedonia :)

[@crusader2112]

***Prussia of the Balkans intensifies*** 😎👍 Part 2 please. This is an interesting world.

[@aaronTGP_3756]

Even though Bulgaria was the smallest Central Power, it was by far the best one behind Germany.

[@christopherlaurie5172]

If Bulgaria seized Constantinople that would have been so ironic knowing the medieval rivalry between Bulgaria and the Byzantines.

[@Silver_Prussian]

At one point our tsar simeon the great tried to unit the bulgarian and byzantine empires, the byzantines were our enemies but also our most respected and worthy rivals.

[@alexzero3736]

@@Silver_Prussian remembers me about Byzatine emperor called "Bulgar Slayer"

[@Billionaire_Destiny]

​@@alexzero3736 Remember Kaloyan "The Byzantine Slayer"

[@morsecode980]

On the topic of Yugoslavia, I wonder if they would’ve fared better as a federal monarchy akin to Germany. Or at least a federal republic

[@strahinjafilipovic9804]

As a Serb, I've personally believe, that despite being a Monarchists, that Pre-Tito Yugoslavia could have only survived by further federalisation into a Confederation of several Kingdoms/Principalities. Something Tito did correctly with formation of Yugoslav Socialist Republics, albeit with flaws. I personally made a couple of dozens of scenarios where Yugoslavia survived, by using this exact system. As Trying to force the various cultural, religious and linguistic elements under a centralised rule and a single Dynasty would end up being Catastrophic.

[@mappingshaman5280]

@@strahinjafilipovic9804 personally the only way I could see yugoslavia surviving is if it was more like the EU as opposed to what it actually was. Basically it has to be so decentralised its not even a country.

[@StivKobra]

Well it started to be more federal after the creation of Banovina of Croatia. If it weren't for the war, the federalization project would have probably been completed and most people satisfied. The main problem were the politicians, the representatives of the nationalities. Like, for example, Stjepan Radic openly seeking support from the Soviet Union, Vlatko Macek not really hiding his plans for Croatian independence and wanting to get as much federal territory as possible by demanding that the territory of Banovina of Croatia contain all the territory within Yugoslavia which has even a single Croatian home within it, as it was "historical Croatian territory". Couple that with the embittered Serb leadership which was mostly against the creation of Yugoslavia to begin with, clashes with Montenegrin and Macedonian nationalists whom they mostly just saw as nonexistent nationalities, with IMRO terrorist organization wreaking havoc against the civilians in Macedonia, Montenegrin king in exile in Italy, and Bosniak muslims being discriminated against by both Serbs and Croats, and you just have a recipe for a disaster. The greatest issue for all of them was "territory". Not even today can you decide these people under strict ethnic lines, with so many Serbs and Croats within Bosnia, Serbs within Croatia, Hungarians, Bosniaks and Romanians within Serbia etc. The only way it could be solved is by a population exchange, but no one is willing to give away territory, even if it would create stability and less internal conflicts. Basically, the moment the war started, Croatians mainly jumped on the bandwagon of freedom the moment Germans entered Yugoslavia. The experiment of banovinas under king Alexander basically satisfied no one. The banovinas didn't solve the issue at all, it was an attempt of assimilated the people within them to adopt a Yugoslav identity. Obviously, no one wanted that. Yugoslavism didn't really take off, mostly because it all happened by a unification after a war in which Serbs, Montenegrins and Macedonians were fighting against Bosniaks, Croats and Slovenes. Not even Serbia basically rescuing Bosniaks, Slovenes and Croats from the losers negotiations table didn't help. Besides that, Serbia saw itself like the Prussia of Germany, Piedmont of Italy. Just like Prussia had a strong leading role within the North German Confederation and later on unified Germany, they saw themselves as natural leaders as well, because they made this union happen with great sacrifice. Now, what would have worked, and which was actually something proposed by a Serb politician during that time, was to create a federal government akin to United States of America, to have the municipalities hold a referendum on which federal territory they want to belong to. That way, the people within the territory would decide based on the majority vote whether they want to join an existing federal territory or create their own, separate one. Still, both Serbs and Croats refused this idea, because both thought that the votes would be rigged or that there would be a stream of settlers to create new votes in favor of one side (kinda like what happened in USA, when the states were deciding whether to be free or slave states). Hence why the proposal was rejected. Clearly, the newly formed Yugoslavia couldn't have done it on its own, and an arbitration by the Entente powers, mainly France and USA, would have greatly helped in making this actual federal project a reality. But unfortunately, the great powers didn't give a damn about this new country. At least not enough to help make it stable. An impartial mediator was necessary, but no one cared enough. Some say that king Alexander's visit to France was in hopes of doing something like that, considering basically his last words were something along the line "I will find a way to create a stable federal government with the help of the French". But we all know that he never came back alive, thanks to a Bulgarian nationalist who was trained and funded by Croatian fascists. As for post war Yugoslavia, it shouldn't have happened. Croats especially have soured the relations with everyone to the point of no return due to the Ustase regime. No ideology could fix the irreparable damaged caused by them. Yugoslavia shouldn't have been a thing after WW2. The illusion of brotherhood and unity was only kept because Tito was a dictator, a pretty ruthless one. His reign was more like "play nice, or you are off to the work camp". The moment he died, the iron grip loosened, and people started expressing their anger freely. The scars left by the Croats were just too much. Mind you, Serbs also committed atrocities, as well as Bosniak SS divisions. But what Croats did was the worst holocaust the Balkans have ever experienced. Not even the reports of Serb atrocities during the 90s can even hold a candle to the brutality and scale of Croat war crimes. And you think such a country can live with "brotherhood and unity"? All of them are at fault, and it all started with the politicians, the leadership. Alexander's ideal was commendable, but way too idealistic. Especially because he tried to force the Yugoslav identity way too fast and way too strictly. He basically just managed to piss off everyone, even the Serbs, who used to see him as their champion.

[@zekehatcher2196]

I've always loved Bulgarian history, glad ya did a video on this!

[@димитърхристов-л7з]

Поздрави от България ❤🇧🇬

[@EEE-pv2eo]

I feel like Bulgaria claiming the title of the Eastern Roman Empire would be extremely based

[@friedrichnietzsche7376]

They kind of did by the way during the reign of Simeon the Great. He defeated the byzantines so badly that they gave In to his demand to have the title tzar of bulgarians and romans. But it was just on paper and he couldn't invade anatolia and Constantinople.

[@rawka_7929]

Nah, we were their longest rival but we weren't them.

[@zwilder1]

@@rawka_7929 Elaborate, please

[@rawka_7929]

@@zwilder1 Bulgaria wasn't the Eastern Roman Empire. Instead Bulgaria was the Eastern Roman Empires longest rival.

[@zeropsaft]

​@rawka_7929 yes it is true and the successor to the Eastern Roman Empire is Greece.

[@achaeanmapping4408]

Bulgarian Empire Mapping is quite pleased, I assume

[@MonsieurDean]

Yep, he's here in the comments actually.

[@pikachuthebananasplit9061]

@@MonsieurDean where is he?

[@rawka_7929]

Thank you for covering my country man, I'm glad that we can get some recognition for our role and importance in the war to begin with. I also really like how well researched and thought out the video was, altough I do think we wouldn't be able to keep Constantinople, let alone extra land in Anatolia.

[@yoghurtmaster1688]

You be everywhere

[@rawka_7929]

@@yoghurtmaster1688 I am?

[@Deridus]

I always enjoyed the concept of Constantinople being governed under Condominium... But I never expected the two powers to be Bulgaria and Greece. Such a thing would be very, very interesting.

[@MissionControlTet]

It's actually possible, Ataturk only won because the Great Powers were exhausted for another Anatolian campaign and also no arm supplies from the Bolsheviks to Turkey, making this timeline truly blessed (I hate Turkey)

[@rawka_7929]

@@MissionControlTet Thing is, Bulgaria was quite exhausted too and not like the soldiers knew the Anatolian terrain either, unlike the Turks. There's also the fact that all the motivation to fight would go away as let's be honest, nobody would fight for some majority Muslim Turkish lands for their Byzantine Emperor wannabe.

[@T_Dun]

It must be said - he's a good looking lad.

[@MonsieurDean]

Well thanks, pally.

[@T_Dun]

@@MonsieurDean No worries, buddy.

[@kinginexile7139]

Thank you for making a video on my country's history! 🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬

[@adamtrott78]

This was a great video explaining the Balkan tensions leading up to WWI. This was a great video!

[@historyrhymes1701]

Bulgaria on three seas 🥵

[@The_Deztro]

could you do a "What if Italy and/or Spain joined the allies in ww2?" I'd be interested in the butterfly effect that stems from it.

[@maxomat4319]

So what if the Stresa front was more succesful.

[@freddysw]

If Italy joins the allies or stays neutral then it is over for Germany as they do not have the man power. In 1939 the Royal Italian Army is 1,600,000, in 1943 3,500,000. In Europe, you have taken half the axis manpower off the table who is going to occupy the fallen nations

[@idcgaming518]

@@freddysw not to mention the near impossibility of German fighting in Africa, thereby securing more British troops to fight in the Balkans and Asia, thus weakening the positions of Japan and Germany significantly.

[@freddysw]

@@idcgaming518 In addition there is no threat to the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal freeing up the Royal Navy. Think of the damage a couple aircraft carriers could do in the Mediterranean based near Malta. The German Navy doesn’t have the operational strength to attack in the mediterranean

[@RainerZufall-fn5zj]

If Spain joined the Allie’s (Franco lost the civil war before), then the Germans most likely occupied Spain and from there Gibraltar. This could block the Mediterranean from there... And with Italy on the Allies there would have been no famous Italian military fiascos on the axis site. Maybe by a German Italian campaign would keep the Germans long enough busy for Stalin attacking the third reich

[@borkogot5738]

as a bulgarian ive always wondered this

[@Cthulhu_bng117]

I literally just booted up Enlisted while watching this, and then a minute later the Enlisted ad came up. Amazing timing

[@LegiyonEhellout]

I want to add a few things, why I, as a Serb really like this world. First, the thing I dislike: I don't like that Bulgaria has Chalkidiki and mount Athos. They should be Greek, and I don't see Greece giving up such a culturally important region. But this and all other minor border issues are not important, since, as you pointed put out in regards to Tsarigrad, it doesn't matter what the exact borders are, as long as they are ruled by an orthodox power. Petar I is my favourite Serbian ruler period, but it frustrates me to no end that he refused to compromise in regards to Macedonia. Why does it matter that we don't own it, it will be in the hands of a fellow orthodox nation. I also don't want Croatian lands, nor Slovrnian, they are catholics, they have a right to rule themselves in accordance to their faith. If we must control them, then make client states, not force orthodox rule on them. Orthodox should not fight eacother over territory, we have the same faith, we should cooprate. It doesn't matter who controls what, as long as we are the same faith.

[@mysteriongr922]

As a Greek, I also find this alternative map highly impossible. No way Greece was going to accept Pella, Thessaloniki and Chalkidiki given to Bulgaria. The most likely compromise is Greece accepting an after 1st Balkan War, pre 2nd frontier. Now, on the Asia Minor part, I also find a Bulgarian presence impossible. Bulgaria didn't have a strong navy, no Bulgarian ever lived in these lands nor Bulgaria ever wanted them. For me, Western Anatolia was going to be given to Greece and not the south stretch, which I believe will be into the French zone of influence, as per Sykes-Pikot agreement. About the aftermath, Bulgaria and Greece could be allies but the most probable and Balkan course will be a 3rd Balkan war. Bulgaria would wanted Thessaloniki, Greece would wanted Constantinople and Serbia may join Greece, looking to regain North Macedonia. Turkey would be too weak to be an important player but I can see some indirect or not interfering from Britain, Russia, France and even Italy.

[@ЙоанАнестев]

Macedonia is rightfully bulgarian land.

[@kaloyanpalikov7734]

Fine, give us the lands that should be ours and we won't fight

[@todorvalchinov7412]

Great video! One of the major factors Bulgaria to join Germany is bc they were our biggest trading partner (think still are).

[@kommandantgalileo]

What if Germany and France switched allies in WW1?

[@gasbasman]

At least give the france faction italy than to otherwise it would be a sloughter

[@mappingshaman5280]

Germany gets Britain, Russia (whose only real problem was germany) and America meanwhile France gets Austria Hungary, the ottomans and Bulgaria. Yeah its a wipe for germanys team.

[@NeverEverClever]

WW1 was basically Germany and some minor countries against 4 great powers. You cant put France and some minor countries against Germany alone, nevermind vs Russia, GB and the USA aswell.

[@LegiyonEhellout]

This is such a good world... Almost 100% perfect

[@qui-gonjinn3322]

I feel like modern Turkey in this timeline would be similar to what is going on right now in Middle East.

[@cerebrummaximus3762]

I am ever more so convinced that any alternative timeline where Bulgaria's wishes come true and demands fulfilled, no matter in what way, are somehow always better than today's situation.

[@reasten1691]

If bulgaria joined the triple entente the central powers wouldve fell much quicker. Bulgaria was the only reason romania and serbia fell. It held entente powers in greece for as long as it could. Bulgaria joining entente powers would mean that the already struggling austria hungary would struggle even more and the ottoman empire would fall far quicker

[@mysteriongr922]

As a Greek, and in believe that i know this time's sentiments, I find this alternative map highly impossible. No way Greece was going to accept Pella, Thessaloniki and Chalkidiki given to Bulgaria. The most likely compromise is Greece accepting an after 1st Balkan War, pre 2nd frontier. Now, on the Asia Minor part, I also find a Bulgarian presence impossible. Bulgaria didn't have a strong navy, no Bulgarian ever lived in these lands nor Bulgaria ever wanted them. For me, Western Anatolia was going to be given to Greece and not the south stretch, which I believe will be into the French zone of influence, as per Sykes-Pikot agreement. About the aftermath, Bulgaria and Greece could be allies but the most probable and Balkan course will be a 3rd Balkan war. Bulgaria would wanted Thessaloniki, Greece would wanted Constantinople and Serbia may join Greece, looking to regain North Macedonia. Turkey would be too weak to be an important player but I can see some indirect or not interfering from Britain, Russia, France and even Italy.

[@arbendit4348]

I agree with you on Thessaloniki but some part of Grek Macedonia would have to be given to Bulgaria given that at the there was a very sizable Bulgarian population in the region. As for Anatolia Bulgaria would want it as Tsar Ferdinand had the ambition like many Bulgarian Kings before him to restore Byzantium under Bulgarian dominion. That's why he would have claimed Byzantine lands under that justification. As for Greece I can see a compromise being reached wherein Greece is given Southern Anatolia and then some sort of Bulgar-Greek Byzatine confederation is formed between both countries, later maybe even incorporating Serbia with its capital being Constantinopole which would be controlled jointly by Bulgaria and Greece. That's the best way to avoid war and actually restore the Byzatine Empire in a serious capacity as neither Greece nor Bulgaria alone could manage to do it. Also to hold a city as massive as Constantinopole and assimilate its majority Muslim population would be very difficult and require lots of time and resources. As for Macedonia I do agree Serbia will have pretensions to it, but lacking control it has no claim to the regions. There are no large amount of Serbs living in Macedonia, and there have been, so Serbian claims will have no support from the local population. The only way the Yugoslav managed to bring some Macedonian partisans to support them was through communism and the promise fo a Balkan federation.

[@mysteriongr922]

@@arbendit4348 I was thinking a border at the mountains western of Serres valley, half of today's Greek Macedonia. Sorry for not specifying on my original post. Also, I understand what you're saying about a possible confederation, but i find it highly unlikely, given the 2 countries history of conflict during the Macedonian Struggle and the Balkan Wars, plus no strong Ottomans (Turkey would be much more weaker on this timeline), so no need to unite against a common enemy.

[@AndreasFly007]

Well there are a lot to unpack here to be honest. You are correct on your assumptions on the Greek border it you be pushed at most to Strymon river. What of the Serbian though? I doubt all of N. Macedonia would be given away maybe 2/3 or 1/2 but certainly not all. The very idea of WW1 ending in 1916 is plainly not possible. The Germans when Bulgaria joined had amassed a truly big army of 400k and a huge artillery component to break the Serbians and they did. Most on the comments seem to totally forget about that huge army that Serbia was dealing with and focus on Bulgarian role which while significant it wasn't the hammer that broke the camel's back. In all likelihood the war ends after the first Russian revolution of March 1917 and the Russians are on a path to civil war or some serious turmoil in general. That would mean some thousand Bulganians dead and a lot of lost agricultural production which leads to a crisis in Bulgaria, as it did in Greece. Constantinople is not given to Bulgaria as it wasn't given to Greece. Any Asia Minor claim is faced with a huge Turkish war which for some reason is brushed of in the video. I mean there are at least 4-5 mill Turks in west Anatolia to fight both Bulgaria and Greece and to give them trouble for years. I fell like the author is just fantasizing in the end of what a better world would be with the lack of fascism which is not explained, Germany would as our timeline be punished for 3 hard years of war either way as the French were vary salty. And the Balkans would most certainly go to a 3rd war.

[@bobmcbob9856]

The thing that really screwed Serbocro-Bulgarian relations was Austria. Serbia was far more concerned with liberating the then-Serb-majority Bosnia and getting a coast (via Albania), however, when these two were denied to them by Austria’s annexation of Bosnia and insistence on Albanian independence, they felt they needed something to compensate for their many deaths, including on the Thracian front where the Serbian army was of great help to the Bulgars but whose involvement the Bulgarian press at the time had downplayed in favour of Bulgarian national pride, which additionally left Serbia feeling insulted. With one of the desired regions, Serbia could take the slight, but without any compensation for sacrifice, it insisted on Macedonia, which they legitimized with the legacy of the Nemanjići, Serbia’s greatest medieval dynasty whose reign was seen as a golden age, and who held Macedonia more or less throughout the entirety of that period, right up to the collapse of the Serbian empire (after which Serb nobles still ruled Macedonia until the Ottomans conquered it)

[@nesarkwastaken]

While serbian help was present, it wasn't enough to justify breaking the written Treaty. The Thracian front was ALOT harder and you contributing to the siege of Edirne isn't enough and Bulgaria was ALOT more present on the thracian front and contributed ALOT MORE.

[@evreiskimason]

god i wanted that for ages

[@MonsieurDean]

Finally it has arrived.

[@sefhammer6276]

Glad to see bulgaria getting more attention. Bulgaria played an important role for many reasons. Forexample when Bulgaria collapsed the ottomans sued for peace. Bulgaria played an important role in getting serbia to fall. They had a large and powerfull army compared to their size. They managed to nock romania out too when they joined. Had they joined the entente things would be vastly different. The war would have might have ended earlier. Bulgaria with the help of the brittish and Russians could maybe get the ottomans out early. They could probably imposse a harsj or not so harsj treaty on the turks. Bulgaria could also apply immens pressure on the serbian front which could have led to an early Austrian exit.

[@marcintalaga2376]

There were still agreements with Russia to make Poland independent or more likely a satellite state after the war for the support of the poles in the conflict as well as majority polish land from Germany still would've been given

[@이동연-c6d]

Yes, finally the topic that I’d like to see for whole years have become a true! I like it very much. 😊😊😊

[@이동연-c6d]

Too bad that it never happens in our timeline. If that happens Bulgaria keep as a Prussia of Balkan and both Greece and Bulgaria keep their strength in the Turkish lands.

[@MissionControlTet]

It's not Turkish lands, it is Greek and Bulgarian lands

[@gladiatorgreyman1285]

It would be cool to see a video on what if Bulgaria won the second Balkan war against all odds.

[@ΔΑΜΙΑΝΟΣΟΥΤΣΚΑΣ]

Literally impossible lmao

[@rawka_7929]

@@ΔΑΜΙΑΝΟΣΟΥΤΣΚΑΣ as a Bulgarian, ngl ye. Imo we could've done pretty well against Greece and Serbia, but there's no way Romania and the Ottomans don't join.

[@DimitarFCBM]

@@ΔΑΜΙΑΝΟΣΟΥΤΣΚΑΣ Possible and most likely if Romania and the Ottomans didn't attack

[@cosmiccosmonaut820]

Bulgaria forms a new Mongolian empire

[@MonsieurDean]

*New Ottoman Empire

[@begemod1743]

New British*

[@AndreasEvgenikos]

For Greece, to concede such lands such as those possessed in Macedonia, to accept, Britain would have to sweeten the deal beyond just lands in western Anatolia which were to be expected, but probably to also include what was offered by the British to get the Greeks on side, Cyprus

[@4realm8rusirius]

Bulgaria rarely gets talked about

[@obamagaming-zv4vy]

I could totally see an earlier ww2 from this scenario,i hope there is a part 2

[@jeremiahkivi4256]

Damn boi, that face don't be what that voice had me thinking it was. Put a crown on that head and a cape on them shoulders and we got ourselves a monarch for America. That's a king I could get behind!

[@MonsieurDean]

instagram.com/p/CkZJgP5OINc/

[@jeremiahkivi4256]

@@MonsieurDean Sorry man, don't do insta, or snap, or any of that garbo. Keeps my sanity... somewhat. Still losing it from watching the news daily lol

[@MonsieurDean]

Good call on that, social media is a real drain. The link was to a picture of me on Halloween when funny enough I dressed as a Roman Emperor.

[@jeremiahkivi4256]

@@MonsieurDean oh, very nice. Probably can get it to pop on Google if I just search it. Yeah, haven't done the social media thing for quite some time. Facebook just nuked my account from orbit. Only used it to keep in touch with old friends and family, hadn't posted in like a year. Got perma banned, do not pass go, there is no appeal process, go screw yourself. Basically what they told me. So I guess I'm not even doing that now. Thanks for the video and the chat though. Off to play some Vic 3 before bed. 3rd shifters make the world go round :P

[@robland3253]

Bulgarias collapse was the straw that broke the central powers back

[@IronDragon-2143]

As a Slovenian American I salute Bulgaria and my fellow Southern Slavs.

[@Uvuv6969]

WTF MONSIUER Z IS HOT

[@familygash7500]

Well, pretty much any timeline where The Romanovs remain in power is a good one, in my opinion. *ALSO, VIDEO SUGGESTION:* What if The Great War was just a Third Balkan War? (Germany and Russia still support Austria-hungary and Serbia respectively, but don't directly intervene, so it's basically just a proxy war). *EDIT:* Why is it now blurred at 00:26?

[@qui-gonjinn3322]

I dunno. Russian Republic sounds dope

[@cerebrummaximus3762]

I have a similar fetish: Every alternative timeline where Bulgarian wishes come true and demands fulfilled, no matter what way, somehow is always better than today's situation.

[@garrbearr5703]

He has a really deep voice.

[@MonsieurDean]

Thanks, pally.

[@hushnowpussycatltd2602]

Definitely thought you were 20 years older haha

[@b.s.1929]

I am Bulgarian and the glory days of Prussia of the Balkans have long passed. But I am still hopeful that at least we Bulgarians will get North Macedonia back. Get back as in not reunifying North Macedonia with Bulgaria, but get back in the sense that Macedonian Bulgarians there will rightfully reclaim their proud Bulgarian heritage and exist as a proud second Bulgarian state in the Balkans with rich history (just read the history of IMRO, it puts Game of Thrones to shame). I would love it if you cover in short the history of IMRO in a future video. Much love to my Macedonian Bulgarian bros 🇧🇬🤝❤️🇲🇰.

[@rawka_7929]

Even if Macedonians acknowledge they were Bulgarians, they're already a new identity and we can't take that away from them. Let them be I'd say.

[@b.s.1929]

@@rawka_7929 no. Because this identity was imposed on them violently through oppression. Just like Cassius Clay, when he realized that his name and identity was imposed on him and changed his name to Muhammad Ali.I imagine it will be something like that.

[@rawka_7929]

@@b.s.1929 the identity is still something many like to identify with, not to mention it's not like it was invented by Tito it became its own thing in the late 19th century and wasn't a majority for awhile in the region, but still.

[@b.s.1929]

@@rawka_7929 Macedonists/Macedonian identity did indeed exist in the latter 19th century yeah. But it was a fringe and incorrect theory (just like the Illyrian movement in the early modern period, look it up), propagated by Serbia in order to artificially separate Bulgarians in Macedonia from other Bulgarians and Serbianize them later. Furthermore, the term Macedonian as a regional identity appeared only in mid19th century. Unless North Macedonians reclaim their rightful Bulgarian heritage, I don't see the country lasting more than 50-100 years. They will have to choose from 1.Rebulgarization, but preservation of their unique political identity 2. Remain the same way and eventually be split along ethnic lines between Albania and Bulgaria/ Albanians split and they remain a statelet 3. Be absorbed into Serbia or a Serb-dominated state yet again. I think option 1 is best, but their current situation is untenable in the long run.

[@rawka_7929]

@@b.s.1929 imo the Macedonian identity isn't any less legitimate just for being young or an offshoot of the Bulgarian one, sure it came from ours but it's been here for over 100 years, it's too late now, best we can do is support our brothers and let them be.

[@georgios_5342]

A small mistake was made. While the Megali Idea was explained pretty well, the National Schism in Greece was not. The two sides weren't "content with neutrality". Venizelos wanted to join the war as early as 1914, and king Constantine was a sworn germanophile, married to the Kaiser's cousin. However, Greece could never take Germany's side, for two reasons. 1) Britain rules the waves 2) Germany had Bulgaria and Ottomans on its side, meaning there was nothing for Greece to gain. Therefore, the king maintained neutrality while passing secret documents to Germany illegally, meanwhile Venizelos was furious that the country did not join the allies. He dismantled the parliament twice, won reelection both times, and seeing as he could do nothing, in 1915 he moved to Thessaloniki, the second largest city (and one which was liberated through his efforts during the Balkan Wars and thus supported him) and declared a Hellenic Republic. Greece was split in two, and the northern part unofficially joined the conflict. Greece was finally reunited a few months later, when the allies landed in Athens and forced the king to abdicate

[@KraNisOG]

Seeing Constantinople in Bulgarian hands is exceptionally cursed.

[@begemod1743]

Nah, it looks cool

[@k.constantine]

Bro, Constantine himself was from land that would be held by Bulgaria for most of its existence.

[@KraNisOG]

@@k.constantine I said it was cursed because at this point it seems like Divine Intervention that they holding the city isn't possible for them. Also the land was Grecco-Roman for most of its existence, just like Constantine. The ones who have the best claim to the city are Greece, and Italy. Naturally the Turks have the right of conquest over it, however.

[@k.constantine]

@@KraNisOG I largely agree, but there was a brief period of time during which the Bulgarian capital of Great Tarnovo had a larger population and was more important for trade than Constantinople. It was called a third Rome in its time, and the Bulgarian Empire came within spitting distance of conquering Constantinople once or twice and failed basically due to bad luck.

[@ExtraInExile]

Pros: Fascism doesn't exist and the lives of millions of people are saved Cons: Balkans become more peaceful and less funny I don't think it's worth it.

[@MonsieurDean]

😂 Funny finding you here!

[@MonsieurDean]

Oh, and given your vexillology content, I figured you might like this: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086678611994 My Facebook page is literally nothing but custom flags.

[@ExtraInExile]

@@MonsieurDean Yooo looks like Facebook is actually useful for something

[@Josbar-wl2np]

you have to remember that when Italy was about to join the war, they marched troops to all of their borders for they were unsure of which side to join. indeed they had designs on Austrian land and land in the balkans, but they also wanted Corsica, Savoy and Nice from France which had a sizeable Italian population. Italy saw the war as an opportunity to regain their lost lands and they were going to join whichever side gave them in the most. Which is why I believe in this timeline, where the Italian Designs in the balkans are ignored, there would be no doubt for the Italians to join the Central powers

[@footballfan_editz]

What if the Dervish State won the African Theatre of WW1?

[@indianpotatofarmer6508]

Day 45 of asking for what if the Zulu beat the British out of South Africa with the help of Bulgaria and maybe Albania not sure about Albania but it’s a thought

[@Dock284]

wha

[@MonsieurDean]

It will come.

[@indianpotatofarmer6508]

@@Dock284 I’m off the perc dawg anything and everything I say in this comment section will not be right

[@indianpotatofarmer6508]

@@MonsieurDean I’ll be chilling in this bitch till than can’t wait

[@Dock284]

@@MonsieurDean oh god

[@dabbananagaming9812]

Great vid! Not gonna lie, never really thought much about the first world war, but this was a fun alt hist scenario.

[@nashzahm]

The one thing i disagree with is i think Britain would still push for Constantinople to be a free city to keep trade from the Black Sea open. But Bulgaria getting the land they took in the First Balkan War is very possible and Greece getting part of Anatolia insures the Dardanelles remain open.

[@fatheadgaming3584]

1000x better then the dream face reveal

[@dixie7500]

had no idea monsiuer z was this handsome 😳

[@griffstanker670]

so yeah, we're not getting part 3 until maybe this time next year at best

[@crusader2112]

Another face reveal video nice. 👍

[@MonsieurDean]

😁

[@Remembrance1776]

Here is a unique scenario: What if Italy was given all that it had been promised by Britain and France or had been suitably compensated so the idea of ‘mutilated victory’ never occurs and Italy remains on good terms with Britain and France when Germany rearms.

[@alexzero3736]

this idea pops up pretty often. With my knowledge of history, and economy...I can say that regions that italy was not given (Dalmatia, Antalya, some deserts in Africa) could give them wider acess to the seas, in fact they would solely dominate Adriatic, which makes Yugoslavia dependant on Italy. Although Italy was in huge debt and inner turmoil after WW1 (there were streetfights of socialists and police and fascists)...I believe Italy would fall into fascist hands anyway (Victor Emannuel was pretty weak person for a king), although fascists would keep monarch as a symbol. If Italy keeps anatagonism against Germany they would block Anshcluss of Austria, i believe there would be a conference about it with UK, France, Germany and Italy and everything what comes next depends on "Is Austria eaten, or stays alive".

[@LVCE.]

Good vid man keep it up😊

[@MonsieurDean]

Thanks, pal!

[@msmith1890]

I wonder what would start the second world war of this world? Great Video Mr.Z let's hope you reach 200k subs.

[@buni1934]

Now make a what if the ottomans joined the entente

[@PackerBacker23]

Not what I expected him to look like

[@MonsieurDean]

Did you assume I was from Ohio?

[@NikiGalabov]

Greetings from Bulgaria! So, you're telling me that just because Serbia occupied Macedonia during the Balkan wars and Bulgaria's uncompromising attitude towards wanting to take it that ultimately led to the rise of USSR, rise of Nazi Germany, WW2 and the deaths of tens of millions of people?! :O Because if Bulgaria joined then Entente all of this wouldn't have happened... Oh my. Btw, Macedonia is still the contentious point in the Balkans to this day. We never learn.

[@just_hris]

Bro imagine we had the same territory today.

[@TrueWeej]

Bulgaria really screwed the pooch when they started the second Balkan war. I wonder what would have happened if they were still negotiating the promised territory and the First World War started. No second Balkan war. They might have stayed neutral or tried to use the conflict to return the lands promised. Maybe take Constantinople and push into Anatolia, would the fight with the other orthodox nations ? Or against. Would the squabble over the crumbs or look to take a pice of Turkey’s territory to make up for the lost territory. It’s almost a way of offering Greece there historical territories the Serbs get Albania and the Bulgarians get north Anatolia. I think it would be easier to sell fighting Turks that their neighbours who they recently fought beside. The post war would be really interesting.

[@Galante177]

Wow never seen Z face, not what i expected cool.

[@QuantumBraced]

As a Bulgarian, I find the outcome map highly unlikely. Even if we could take Constantinople with the help of Greece, there is no way we could hold it, let alone all of that land in Anatolia AND Thassaloniki which you also have us controlling. Greece would absolutely not cede Thessaloniki, and I'm not sure Bulgaria would want it either, it never had more than 10% Bulgarian population. Bulgaria's population of ethnic Bulgarians would be absolutely dwarfed by the number of Turks and Greeks that would now be within its borders, it just wouldn't work at all. What's more likely is, we would get Macedonia, maybe a bit more land in Aegean Thrace where ethnic Bulgarians still live, a nice Aegean coast east of the fork peninsula, and more land in East Thrace, possibly a bit more of Dobruja, any combination of these... could almost double Bulgaria's pre-war area. The Greek concessions could be made in exchange for helping them secure land in Anatolia.

[@EvilParagon4]

I don't really see a timeline where Greece and Bulgaria could be on the same side. It seemed like a deciding factor for both countries was what side the other was on.

[@gomez3432]

BULGARIA MENTIONED!!!! RAHHHHHh 🦅

[@diagatjl6096]

Pleasantly surprised to see MZ as a very nice gentleman when opposed to overweight, skinny or ugly bloggers who also love to debate history (like say Vaush): D

[@louisxix3271]

Bulgaria never wanted an Adriatic coast. Their maximum territorial aims were basically San Stefano + Northern Dobruja + Turkish Thrace. Constantinople at a huge stretch, but it wouldn't be very realistic, UK would occupy it instead.

[@evenlord7825]

Great video

[@MonsieurDean]

Thanks!

[@vasil.kamdzhalov]

Thank you for making the video and being able to see many nice comments for Bulgaria at the time. Today is a whole other question which is rather depressing :D

[@FelipeJaquez]

Damn they made Monsieur Z into like a real thing.

[@thegreatestoctopus9739]

Didn't expect to be here this early or for this video, that's great!

[@mrwaves6863]

Bro he talks about maps all day, he’s not allowed to be this hot

[@Shunteration]

I did NOT expect that face behind that voice.

[@cekatagruev9384]

Bulgaria!!! The oldest civilization which still exist even when any other fail in there past!!! 🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬

[@pikachuthebananasplit9061]

Even though I'm Australian I have always had a soft spot for the Bulgarians. I mean for centuries great powers like the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, Mongols, Macedonians, Germans and Russians have slapped the Bulgars around! They never got their time to shine much like Paraguay!

[@eur0cyon597]

Monsieur Z, what if the Netherlands joined ww1, do a one video about them joining the central powers, and another video about them joining the entente. Genuinely curious about what you think about a Dutch involvement in ww1 (especially under the central powers).

[@MontyPeters]

Monsieur Z is usually sponsored by ridge wallet, but what if that changed?: 4:26

[@Bluepizza1684]

litterally the chad face

[@hotchocolateconnoisseur]

NO WAY DUDE

[@MonsieurDean]

Yes way.

[@hotchocolateconnoisseur]

@@MonsieurDean I can’t believe you actually did it

[@unitedgamerofbulgaria1847]

Bulgaria is my home country

[@eindalton2638]

So this scenario creates a possible future of tri moreta.

[@ryant9884]

I always thought Bulgaria was always the guy that’s here but never actually did anything

[@00martoneniris86]

What if sugestions What if vercingetorix rebellion succeeded What if Caesar was killed in Alesia or gergovia What if spartacus slave Rebellion succeeded

[@alexzero3736]

So basically "What if greatness of Rome was destroyed"? Well, that pretty obvius, Rome would be replaced by it s rivals, like Carthage, Sparta, Pontus, Parthia. The Latin language would never be a world or science language, it would be Greek and German, as Greek culture would dominate one part of Europe and Asia minor, while German would dominate Western and North Europe. Also there wont be remakes of Rome like HRE or Eastern Empire. Ottomans wont rise since Asia minor was populated by peoples who shared Greek culture since conquests of Alexander the Great.

[@NZAnimeManga]

You’ve got the UK’s flag upside down in the thumbnail.

[@novacaesar9303]

Omg he's kind of adorable. *headpats*

[@TheHatersarebad]

1. What if China collapsed during the Three Kingdoms Period and never reunited? 2. What if the Normans invaded Iberia? 3. What if the Hundred Years War never happened with England and France? 4. What if the Holy Roman Empire (Germany) never formed?

[@JTL1776]

What if AMERICA BRITIAN ITALY GREECE JAPAN. Were in a alliance in the world wars.

[@JackDSquat]

Anytime I see a balkanized Turkey I am happy

[@cactusgreen4449]

What if the Marshall Mission was a success?

[@them.m.sgamer8017]

I mean, ''what if Douglas Macharthur had become president?''

[@alessandro_junior_007]

Video suggestion: what if *UNITA* had won the Angolan Civil War

[@fascistmonke]

Serbia wanted to occupy Bulgaria with Russian, Romanian and Greek troops in order to prevent the Bulgarians from joining the war and to stop Serbia from defending itself. France and Russia only wanted to negotiate with Bulgaria since they didn’t want to be seen as occupators (although it‘s pretty clear that the Bulgarians were the one that tried to occupy their neighbors’ lands wanted after the Balkan wars). Stamboliyski would have been put in power. This would have been the best outcome for Bulgaria, but it would mean that it would been turned into a republic because no other dynasty would have been free for ruling another country. Stamboliyski still wouldn’t want to be seen as a traitor so he would probably demand Kavala, Southern Dobruja and Adrianople since those lands have had a significant Bulgarian minority. Serbia would never agree to give Western Macedonia and Skopje to Bulgaria. Even if it had meant risking their primary goal. Germany attempted to sign a separate peace with Serbia in 1915, promised parts of Bosnia, Syrmia and Southern Albania, but I suppose if Serbia had really felt under pressure it would probably be couped and placed under a military dictatorship, in the end of the war as a neutral nation in the post-Balkan conflict.

[@martinboskovic1009]

"I have sacrifiied a quorter of a million of these balcan savages to the altar of teutonic victory in this war!" They say that bulgarian tsar Ferdinand Koburg said once,when victory still appeared in the horizont!😢

[@sirdeacan4309]

What if Japan and the USA formed an alliance

[@roflcopterkerman4589]

The Soviet union has really bad time.

[@sirdeacan4309]

Before world war 2