Beyond Hitler's Grasp

This is a lesser known story which needs to be told now that it is possible. At the same time it is important to learn from it during a time of rising antisemitism. The mass rescue of 50000 Bulgarian Jews is truly amazing and shows how many agents from all parts of society came together to defy the Nazi regime in Bulgaria and were willing to support the Jews overtly and some secretly. Writer and historian Michael Bar-Zohar (b. in Sofia) gives an excellent introduction to pre-war Bulgarian history, what led to becoming allied with the Axis powers and how the options were limited given historical circumstances esp. the Bulgarian loss of territory in previous wars and the unwillingness to war against Russia. Sadly the 11400 Jews of Bulgarian occupied Macedonia, Thrace, and Serbian Pirot were not rescued, but Bar-Zohar explains the complex circumstances quite well. He also shows the courage and fortitude of key people like the Chief Rabbi of Sofia, Daniel Zion, the Metropolitan Stefan of Sofia backed by the bishops of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, their continued support for the Jews and defiance of antisemitic laws and actions. Also many parts of civil society incl. key individuals fought to defy violation of human and civil rights and joined forces in supporting Jews against the pro-Nazi regime. The general Bulgarian public was not antisemitic although there were staunch Nazis in certain groups. King Boris III played an important role prior to making the crucial decision (supported by some politicians) in averting deportation of the Bulgarian Jews March 1943 before his mysterious death August 1943 shortly after a stressful visit with Hitler. The King acted wisely and courageously in subtle ways maneuvering pressure and multiple difficulties, see Stephane Groueff’s Crown of thorns., which is also well worth reading. Overall Bulgaria’s Jews were assimilated ever since they fled the Spanish inquisition and had gradually acquired the same socio-economic status as many Bulgarians; most had over time lost their initial wealth. Also, many Bulgarian Jews grew up in a multiethnic society and were thus considered fellow-citizens. So, there was no breeding ground for the Jew hatred that Nazi-Germany called for. This is a very well-written account, clear, nuanced and easy to read. It includes the very complex tug-of-war exercised by many agents, who worked to protect the Jews against the leading pro-Nazi politicians. It shows a staunch, unwavering struggle over several years and is exemplary in its goal to protect the Jews from being deported and annihilated. Each chapter has notes indicating numerous sources: reports, diaries, memoirs, court documents, church archives, interviews, etc... Another excellent Amazon book related to this one is: Avi Mizrachi: Legacy of hope – Heroes from generation to generation about Rabbi Daniel Zion and Metropolitan Stefan, their friendship and collaboration was courageous and relentless in support for the Jews defying the pro-Nazi regime. Professor Albena Taneva, University of Sofia also contributed to Bar-Zohar’s book and her works are well worth reading esp. The power of civil society in a time of genocide.

I am Bulgarian and I was astonished to discover that I did not know much about the events and people involved during the fateful spring of 1943 that led to the saving of all Bulgarian citizens of Jewish decent. The book by Prof. Michael Bar-Zohar should be taught in every school in Bulgaria. Sadly, 45 years of Communist rule in Bulgaria suppressed and distorted the true history of Bulgarian Jews and the courageous acts of ordinary citizens, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Bulgarian statesmen, and King Boris III at the time. Contrasting the developments in Bulgaria with events in the rest of Europe and the fact that Bulgaria was a small puppet state to the Nazi Reich, it is an astonishing accomplishment that Bulgarians stood up to Nazi Germany indoctrination and prevented the annihilation of 50,000 of its own citizens. Bulgarians should reflect on this history and be proud of this act of humanism and courage as we should be ashamed by the fact that Bulgaria did not save the Jews in Macedonia and Thrace or later in 1989 tried to assimilate and ultimately expelled close to 300, 000 Muslim Bulgarians (Pomaks) to Turkey. There is much to learn from this history that is universal and not particular to the circumstances in Bulgaria. The renewal of nationalism in Europe and the U.S. and the rise of political platforms that again target minorities and fan out hatred is a crude awakening that history should not be forgotten. A highly recommend book to read and study to anyone who is concerned about the future of humanity and how an individual’s actions or inaction can have far reaching consequences.

While many are familiar with the rescue of Danish Jews during World War II, little is known that Bulgaria was the only Axis-aligned nation not to deport a single one of its 50,000 Jewish citizens to Poland and almost certain death. Dr. Michael Bar-Zohar is a distinguished Israeli historian who describes in dramatic fashion and with painstaking documentation the heroic actions taken in March and May 1943 by King Boris, Metropolitan Stefan of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, non-Jewish parliamentarians, and members of the country's Jewish community to keep the Jews of Bulgaria out of Hitler's grasp.

Bulgaria managed to save virtually her entire Jewish population by refusing to turn them over for transportation to the camps. Even though they suffered deprivation and exploitation at home with the exception a few suicides and failed escape attempts they survived the war. More amazing unlike other countries e.g. Denmark there was no neutral country easily accessible to send them and also there were restrictive laws nearly identical to those in Nazi Germany.This is the remarkable story of how it was done😀

It has been more than 70 years for the salvation of the Bulgarian Jewry by a Bulgarian politician Dimitar Peshev, Lialiana Panitza who was the secretary of the commissar of Jewish affairs in Bulgaria during WWII Alexander Belev, the heads of the Bulgarian Orthodox church in Plovdiv and in Sofia metropolitans Kiril and Stefan but foremost thanks to the Bulgarian people. As a Bulgarian descendant I was familiar with the story that was told by my family. My father who was a young boy during the war had to wear the yellow star. My mother who was born after the war had told of her father who had to work in a labor camp in Sofia. I read the book that was published in Hebrew and now that is was published also in English, it would be an opportunity to all to familiarize with the remarkable story of the salvation of the Bulgarian Jews.

Serious errors in documentation and unnecessary repetition mar this otherwise interesting work. Bar-Zohar cited Groueff's Crown of Thorns repeatedly, yet even more often copies large sections from Groueff's work verbatim and without acknowledgement. This is extremely disturbing in a supposedly professional historical study. The only area in which Bar-Zohar seems to go out on his own is the period following King Boris' death, an area outside the scope of Groueff's study. For that time period the work is useful; otherwise, read Crown of Thorns instead, or at least, read it first.

At a recent Passover dinner one of the guests mentioned that the small country of Bulgaria had rescued 50,000 Jews from certain death in the gas chambers. I couldn't believe I hadn't heard the story. Did some internet research and learned that this rescue really did happen. The search also revealed this book. Bought it on Amazon. It arrived in just two days. I couldn't put it down. Read it in one day and have passed that book around to many of my friends who were as amazed as I was.

Very well written and researched. I found it very informative and inspiring that the majority of the Bulgarian people of various minorities and religions were so bonded together that they would not allow the Nazi 's to divide and subjugate them.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. I am not sure how I came to find it but it gripped me from the first page - which is impressive for a history book. The author starts with the end - which is quite emotional but also manages to keep one's interest going throughout what is a fascinating and largely unknown part of the history of the second world war. It is essentially the story of how the Jews in the area of pre-war Bulgaria (though not the enlarged intra-war country including Thrace & Macedonia) are saved by a series of intrigues and intercessions by the countries religious leaders. It certainly makes you wonder what might have happened elsewhere if religious leaders had not been so lily-livered and fawning to the Nazis.

Excellent and astonishing, how good to know there were those who cared.