Final answer:
During World War II, Bulgaria was initially neutral but was eventually coerced into signing the Tripartite Pact and becoming an Axis Ally with Germany. Later in the war, after a coup d'etat, Bulgaria switched sides and joined the Allies, declaring war on Germany.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bulgaria's position during World War II was complex, as it maintained relations with Germany while trying to navigate a position that would benefit its own national interests. Initially, Bulgaria declared a position of neutrality. However, as the war progressed, Bulgaria was forced to sign the Tripartite Pact with Nazi Germany, joining the Axis Powers in 1941. This alliance with Germany did not include Bulgarian participation in the war against the Soviet Union, and Bulgaria did have some territorial disputes with its Axis partner, Romania.
During this time, Bulgaria was allowed to occupy parts of Greece and Yugoslavia, which satisfied some territorial claims that the country had from World War I. However, despite its official position as an ally of Germany, Bulgaria did not actively participate in military operations except in the territories it occupied. As the war drew to a close and the tide turned against the Axis powers, Bulgaria switched its allegiance. In September 1944, after a coup d'etat, Bulgaria joined the Allies and declared war on Germany, aiming to preserve what it could in the face of impending Soviet invasion and occupation.