Why The War Of The Stray Dog Occurred

Two further casualties seemingly followed: a Greek captain and private were both killed as they attempted to step between the two sides with a flag of truce, per Military History Now. Interestingly, though, there may never have been a dog involved at all. Another version of events simply details a Bulgarian attack on a Greek outpost (per The Northern Standard via Trove). In response, Greece purportedly "issued an ultimatum to Bulgaria," asking for an apology and a payment of 2,000,000 French francs. The Bulgarians, for their part, were reported to have raised a flag of surrender themselves, after shooting the men in a misunderstanding.

Regardless of which tale is the true one, the outcome was the same: Greece's belligerent dictator Theodoros Pangalos reportedly planned an invasion of Bulgaria when no compensation or apology came. In response, Bulgaria appealed to the League of Nations for aid. According to War History Online, the League ruled that both armies should withdraw and that Greece would pay compensation for the 50 or so Bulgarian civilians killed: £45,000 (approximately $62,000).