Primary Documents - Bulgarian Government Request for a Ceasefire, 24 September 1918
As the Allies increased
pressure upon German forces on the Western Front, so German troops were
hastily transferred from assisting Bulgaria, leaving
Bulgarian forces severely weakened and increasingly demoralised.
The moment was consequently considered ripe for a major Allied offensive against Bulgarian forces, newly aided by a Greek force donated by pro-Allied Prime Minister Eleutherios Venizelos. The Allied forces in the region were led by French General Franchet d'Esperey; he determined to launch the Vardar Offensive on 15 September 1918.
Allied success was immediate and impressive; within little over a week Bulgaria solicited for a ceasefire and on 29 September 1918 Bulgaria signed an armistice, thereby exiting from the war. In consequence of Bulgaria's military defeat King Ferdinand shortly afterwards abdicated.
Reproduced below is the text of a statement issued by the Bulgarian government requesting a ceasefire.
Click here to read d'Esperey's official report summarising the offensive. Click here to read British regional commander Sir George Milne's account. Click here to read a statement issued by Colonel Frantzis, Greek Military Attaché in London, on 29 September 1918. Click here to read d'Esperey's official telegram to Venizelos in praise of Greek troops. Click here to read Venizelos' own statement issued to local Greek commanders. Click here and here to read Milne's statements similarly lauding Greek efforts. Click here to read the terms of the Bulgarian armistice. Click here to read the text of Tsar Ferdinand's abdication statement.
Bulgarian Government Statement Seeking a Ceasefire, 24 September 1918
Sofia, 24 September 1918
In view of the conjunction of circumstances which have recently arisen, and after the position had been jointly discussed with all competent authorities, the Bulgarian Government, desiring to put an end to the bloodshed, authorised the Commander-in-Chief of the army to propose to the Generalissimo of the armies of the Entente at Salonika a cessation of hostilities and the entering into of negotiations for obtaining an armistice and peace.
The members of the Bulgarian delegation left yesterday evening in order to get into touch with the plenipotentiaries of the Entente belligerents.
Source: Source Records of the Great War, Vol. VI, ed. Charles F. Horne, National Alumni 1923
An Amiens Hut was a temporary structure of canvas on a frame used at British base camps.
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