Part 4/15:
The neighboring country, Bulgaria, was showing signs of increased involvement, even if not yet fully aligned with the Central Powers. Despite not officially joining the alliance, Bulgaria maintained friendly relations with Germany and Austria-Hungary, largely supported by substantial loans from Berlin and Vienna. On April 1, Bulgarian troops, with Turkish support, crossed into Serbia near the Vardar area—a region fraught with territorial disputes—aiming to disrupt vital rail links between Thessaloniki and Skopje and stir unrest among the Serb population.