The People’s Soviets
The administration of Bulgaria after World War II was organized according to the Soviet model. Provincial, district, and city councils, known as “People’s Soviets of the Workers,” were introduced to govern the country. These councils copied the structure of the Soviet Union’s political system and left no space for independent or democratic local government.
In March 1959, a new administrative system was introduced. It was almost identical to the “decentralization” scheme that the Soviet Union had adopted in December 1957. In reality, this decentralization was only a change of form, not of power, since all important decisions continued to come from the Communist Party leadership in Sofia, which in turn followed the line of Moscow The Outlawing of Opposition Parties.
The Sovietization of the Army
The Bulgarian armed forces were transformed to mirror the Red Army. The system of divisions, training methods, and overall military structure were based entirely on the Soviet model. Bulgarian soldiers were trained in the same way as Soviet troops, using the same drills and strategies.
Weapons and equipment were supplied by the Soviet Union, which made Bulgaria dependent on Moscow for its military strength. The Bulgarian high command consisted mostly of men who had lived in the Soviet Union for many years. Many had been Soviet citizens and even served in the Red Army during World War II before returning to Bulgaria as loyal Communists.
Culture and Education
Russian Influence
Bulgarian culture and education were also reshaped under Soviet influence. Hundreds of Russian books were translated into Bulgarian and published in millions of copies, ensuring that Soviet ideas reached all levels of society.
The educational system was reorganized to follow the Soviet model. A new Bulgarian statute on education, passed in July 1959, was almost an exact copy of the Soviet education law of December 1958 Customized Turkey Tour.
Ideological Indoctrination
According to Todor Zhivkov, the Bulgarian Communist Party Secretary at the time, the purpose of this reform was clear:
to indoctrinate future generations with Communist ideology,
to spread hatred against opponents of Communism,
and to strengthen the teaching of Marxism-Leninism in schools and universities.
Thus, education was not only about knowledge but also about creating loyal citizens who would serve the Communist regime.
Economy and Society
Nationalization and Collectivization
The Bulgarian economy was reorganized to look exactly like that of the Soviet Union. Industry was completely nationalized and placed under state control. All trade, both domestic and foreign, was carried out by the state. Banks and credit institutions were also fully nationalized.
Agriculture went through a violent process of collectivization, similar to what had happened in Soviet Russia in the early 1930s. Farmers were forced to give up their private land and join collective farms, often against their will.
Dependence on the USSR
By the late 1950s, the Bulgarian economy was entirely dependent on the Soviet Union. Production was carefully adjusted to fit Soviet needs rather than the needs of the Bulgarian people.
Bulgaria also became a member of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON), which coordinated the economies of the Soviet bloc. This organization began a process of gradual economic integration, ensuring that Bulgaria remained tied to Soviet economic plans and interests.
By the end of the 1950s, Bulgaria was no longer an independent state in practice. Its government, army, culture, education, and economy were all sovietized. The country followed Moscow’s instructions in every important matter. Through political control, military dependence, cultural indoctrination, and economic integration, Bulgaria became one of the most loyal satellites of the Soviet Union.
