Border Security and Control in Bulgaria

Tightened Border Security

From the 1960s to the late 1980s, Bulgaria’s border security became incredibly tight, especially in areas 15 to 20 kilometers deep into the country. This was achieved through a combination of methods, including minefields, a network of special appliances known as “Klyon,” and a large network of State Security agents. These measures made it almost impossible for anyone to cross the border illegally.

Escape attempts were severely punished. People who tried to escape were either shot on the spot or captured and put on trial. Until 1975, the usual sentence for those caught attempting to flee was up to 15 years in prison. This harsh policy made crossing the border a dangerous and almost impossible task for anyone wanting to escape the regime Personal Istanbul Tours.

The Impact of the Berlin Wall

In 1961, the construction of the Berlin Wall created a new wave of escape attempts as many citizens of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) sought to flee to the West. Some tried to use the Southern Bulgarian border as a route, but most of them were either caught or killed in the process. Those who were caught were handed over to the GDR authorities, where they faced severe punishment. The Bulgarian government cooperated with East Germany’s regime to prevent such escapes and tightly controlled the border area.

Cooperation Between Bulgaria and the GDR

Bulgaria’s State Security was an integral part of the broader Eastern Bloc security system, with its operations coordinated through the KGB (the Soviet Union’s intelligence service) in Moscow. The Bulgarian security services worked closely with the German Stasi (East Germany’s secret police), forming a strong bond built on Soviet strategies of control and surveillance.

This cooperation included many shared responsibilities:

Surveillance of citizens both in Bulgaria and East Germany.

Elimination of political enemies and anyone considered a threat to the regime.

Espionage and recruitment of foreign citizens for intelligence purposes.

Carrying out KGB orders in third countries, including industrial espionage.

Monitoring political emigration, particularly from countries like Germany.

Spying on each other, as both the Bulgarian and East German secret services kept tabs on each other’s citizens and officials.

One of the most important activities of this cooperation during the 1970s and 1980s was the monitoring and suppression of East German citizens who attempted to escape to the West via the Southern Bulgarian borders. The Stasi would inform Bulgarian State Security about any contacts between GDR citizens and their relatives in the Federal Republic of Germany, often in Bulgarian resorts or through student connections at universities. The Stasi would also report on the behavior and contacts of Bulgarian officials when they traveled to West Germany.

The border security measures in Bulgaria from the 1960s to the 1980s were part of a larger effort to prevent escape and control the movement of citizens under the communist regime. The close cooperation between Bulgarian and East German security forces made it nearly impossible for people to flee, while also strengthening the authoritarian system. The collaboration between the Bulgarian State Security and the Stasi further helped control the population and suppress any attempts at resistance or defection. As a result, many individuals who tried to escape were either caught, punished, or killed, while their families also suffered under the regime’s control.