Editing Varna, Bulgaria (section)

=== Third Bulgarian State ===
[[File:Karte der Stadt Warna 1897.jpg|thumb|City map of 1897]]
In 1878, the city, which had 26,000 inhabitants, was given to Bulgaria by Russian troops, who entered on 27 July. Varna became a front city in the [[First Balkan War]] and the [[First World War]]; its economy was badly affected by the temporary loss of its agrarian hinterland of Southern Dobruja to Romania (1913–16 and 1919–40). In the [[Second World War]], the [[Red Army]] occupied the city in September 1944 and helped to cement communist rule in Bulgaria.

One of the early centres of industrial development and the Bulgarian labour movement, Varna established itself as the nation's principal port of export, a major grain-producing and [[viticulture]] centre, seat of the nation's oldest institution of higher learning outside Sofia, a popular venue for international festivals and events, and the country's ''de facto'' summer capital with the erection of the [[Euxinograd]] royal summer palace (currently, the Bulgarian government convenes summer sessions there). Mass tourism emerged since the late 1950s. Heavy industry and trade with the Soviet Union boomed in the 1950s to the 1970s.

From 20 December 1949 to 20 October 1956 the city was renamed Stalin by the communist government after Soviet dictator [[Joseph Stalin]].<ref>{{cite web |author=BSH |url=http://varna.info.bg/english/name_of_varna_en.htm |title=The names of Varna |publisher=Varna.info.bg |date=21 December 1949 |access-date=6 May 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518183425/http://varna.info.bg/english/name_of_varna_en.htm |archive-date=18 May 2011 }}</ref>

In 1962, the 15th [[Chess Olympiad]], also known as the World Team Championship, organized by [[FIDE]], was held in Varna. In 1969 and 1987, Varna was the host of the World [[Rhythmic Gymnastics]] Championships. From 30 September to 4 October 1973, the 10th [[Olympic Congress]] took place in the [[Palace of Culture and Sports]].

Varna became a popular resort for Eastern Europeans, who were barred from travelling to the West until 1989. One of them, the veteran East German communist [[Otto Braun (communist)|Otto Braun]], died on a vacation in Varna in 1974.