Balkan Wars through the Eyes of the Warring Parties

Balkan Wars through the Eyes of the Warring Parties Book Description: In the autumn of 1912, the Ottoman Empire was in turmoil. In addition to the uprisings in Albania and Yemen, the Empire was also at war with Italy over Tripoli. To make matters worse, cholera was spreading through the country, leaving a devastated population in its wake. This weakness made the Ottoman Empire vulnerable to attack. Balkan states did not miss the opportunity either. On October 8, 1912, Montenegro declared war on the Ottoman Empire, starting the first of the Balkan Wars. Putting aside their disagreements, four nations came together and formed the Balkan Alliance: Serbia, Greece, Montenegro and Bulgaria. Although the Balkan Alliance achieved an extraordinary territorial victory, debates soon arose about how the lands would be distributed. Bulgaria, unhappy with the share it received from Macedonia, attacked its former allies Serbia and Greece. The Treaty of Bucharest, signed on 10 August 1913, ended this second war, but did not lead to peace. The Balkans again turned into a war theater in the First World War, which started with the Sarajevo assassination. From the moment it ended until today, the Balkan Wars have been a popular subject for scientific research. However, despite all the interest it has received, research in this field is far from complete. In this work, which contributes to the documentation and understanding of this conflict, author Igor Despot not only narrates the events that took place during these wars, but also examines these events in the light of their relevant cultural context, paying attention to the cultural similarities and differences that may have determined the alliances or exacerbated the conflicts that emerged throughout Balkan history. is pulling. (From the Promotional Bulletin)