Boris III

Boris III (1894-1943), king of Bulgaria (1918-1943), born in Sofiya, eldest son of King Ferdinand I. Boris became king when his father abdicated in 1918. Ruling for 15 years as a constitutional monarch, he took little part in politics in spite of constant internal disturbances. In 1934 the Bulgarian premier suspended the constitution and set up a military dictatorship. The following year Boris took over, ruling thereafter as a dictator. During World War II he allied Bulgaria with the Axis Powers and agreed to German occupation. He furnished troops for operations against Greece and Yugoslavia but refused to attack the USSR. Boris was reportedly assassinated by German agents.