As a result of forced collectivization and economic control, many villages began to lose their populations. Young people moved to cities in search of jobs or simply to escape the harsh conditions in rural areas. Photos from this period show many abandoned village houses—a powerful image of the disruption caused by government policies.
At the same time, socialist realism art was promoted to show leaders like Vulko Chervenkov as heroic figures. This type of art was meant to inspire loyalty to the Communist Party and glorify state power, even while people’s everyday lives were becoming more difficult.
Expropriation of Private Property in Industry, Trade, and Banking
In addition to farming, the communist regime also targeted industry, trade, and banking. In spring 1946, the Bulgarian Communist Party began a campaign to support the “dictatorship of the proletariat.” This meant removing private ownership from all parts of the economy Istanbul Tours Guide.
On 8 September 1946, the government passed the Confiscation of Property Act. According to Article 1, all property—land, buildings, money, and even shares—that had been acquired since 1935 could be taken by the state. The law described any form of private business as “profiteering,” and thus illegal.
The goal was to destroy the financial power of people the regime saw as enemies. As Alexander Girginov of the Democratic Party said, the law was used to economically eliminate those not loyal to the government.
Nationalization A Soviet-Style Economy
By the end of 1947, Bulgaria had become a single-party state, closely modeled after the Soviet Union. Private businesses, industries, and banks were nationalized. This was described by Georgi Dimitrov, Communist Party leader and head of the Comintern, as one of the most important steps in turning capitalism into socialism.
From agriculture to industry, the Bulgarian Communist Party reshaped the entire economy and society, often through force, fear, and strict control.
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