What Are We Doing? The War Years, 1912–1919

Chapter 2 follows Bulgaria’s involvement in the Balkan Wars and the First World War, highlighting their transformative impact on society. Initially enthusiastic, the country and the post-1878 generation soon experienced disillusionment due to the harsh realities of war and territorial losses in both 1913 and 1919. The conflicts brought economic difficulties and strained Bulgarian relations with other European countries. Despite these hardships, the wars were formative for the post-1878 generation. The state mobilization of culture promoted the professionalization of cultural production and facilitated writers’ direct connections to readers.