Unknown Bulgarian Communist Medal

[Finnishlion178]

Does anyone know what this medal is for?

http://www.bulgarianmedals.com/ext/i...rdeathmed3.jpg

[desantnik]

World War II commemorative, I believe 30 years from memory.

[John F.]

This is a Bulgarian Patriotic War 1944-1945 Medal. It was instituted On 9th September 1945, and was awarded to all participants who fought against the Germans in WWII. Bulgaria was a German ally in the war, but had no troops fighting on the fronts. King Boris refused Hitler to send soldiers against Russia, who gave Bulgaria freedom from Turkish rule in 1878. After the Soviet army enter Bulgaria on 9 September 1944, they were saluted as second time liberators. The communist party of Bulgaria was placed into rule and the government sent troops to join the 3rd Ukrainian front to fight against the Germans in Serbia, Hungary and Austria utill the wars end. The black stripe indicates that it awarded posthumously.

[McCulloh]

The Bulgarians did have troops in Yugoslavia and Greece however (Macedonia) as occupation/anti-partisan troops. Their air force also was a stout defender of her territory, shooting down a few B-17s passing overhead.