Bulgaria: The September 9, 1944, coup d'état

On September 9, 1944, a coup d'état in Bulgaria overthrew the government of Konstantin Muraviev, replacing it with a Fatherland Front administration led by Kimon Georgiev. The takeover occurred in Sofia during the night of September 8-9, supported by the advancing Red Army and elements of the Bulgarian military and partisan groups.

The coup resulted in the arrest of high-ranking government and military officials, including the regents. Following the transition, the new government declared war on Germany, shifting Bulgaria's geopolitical orientation and placing the country within the Soviet sphere of influence. The military was reorganized into the Bulgarian People's Army, and political commissars were introduced to ensure loyalty.

The events triggered profound political, economic, and social transformations in Bulgaria. This period was marked by mass arrests and the establishment of People's Courts to prosecute members of the previous political and social elite.