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Bulgaria's Rescue of 50,000 Jews

(CAMERA) Katrin Gendov - The story of how Bulgaria, an ally to Hitler, saved its 50,000 Jews is deserving of recognition. The deportation of the Jews from Thrace and Macedonia alerted Bulgaria to what was about to follow. In March 1943, trains arrived in Bulgaria to transport all the Jews straight to a death camp in Treblinka. Policemen gathered Jews at schoolyards to await their deportation. However, not a single Jew left the country. Ordinary Bulgarian citizens and members of parliament mobilized against the deportation. The head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church arrived on the day of the deportation at the train station. The church opened its doors and provided shelter for the Bulgarian Jews, and the King of Bulgaria canceled the deportation. Months later, Hitler tried again, requesting from the King that all of Bulgaria's Jews be sent to Poland. King Boris told the German leader that the country needed the Jews for labor, hence he created labor camps where 20,000 men were sent to work and remained in the country. His quick response to Hitler's demand prevented the second deportation. After the war, 96% of the Jewish population in Bulgaria emigrated to Israel.
2017-09-29 00:00:00
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