The Contested Zone Defined in 1912 & Serbia’s Claim to the Uncontested Zone in 1913

by AoifeIves

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  1. A map of the Contested Zone according to the Treaty Of Friendship And Alliance Between Bulgaria And Serbia signed on the 29th of February, 1912 and the area of the Uncontested Zone claimed by Serbia according to the Greek–Serbian Protocol signed on the 5th of May, 1913. The Contested and Uncontested Zones provide important context required to properly understand the Balkan Wars (1912–1913).

    The Contested Zone was a region that both Bulgaria and Serbia had claims over, Serbia agreed not to claim south of this zone and should neither side be able to decide on a border in the zone after having come in control of it they were to allow the Russian Tsar to arbitrate the issue and decide the border for them somewhere within the zone. The Uncontested Zone was the region south of the Contested Zone, it was called the Uncontested Zone as it was agreed to be uncontested Bulgarian territory by both Serbia and Bulgaria. The establishment of the Contested and Uncontested Zones shows both Serbia and Bulgaria willing to put aside their differences and come to a common understanding in the face of a common enemy. This understanding laid the foundation for the Balkan League which led to the success of the Balkan nations in the First Balkan War in liberating the Balkans from Ottoman control. The establishment of a Serbian border claim within the Uncontested Zone (the area they agreed not to make a claim to) after the First Balkan War shows the former understanding between the Balkan League nations falling through and their differences in geopolitical goals becoming irreconcilable, this then leading to the outbreak of the Second Balkan War which Bulgaria would lose, allowing Serbia to secure its control over Macedonia.

    This was made in collaboration with u/HasanBey_38, without his help it would have been impossible.

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