American Historian’s Book on Jews in Bulgaria During WW II Published in Bulgarian

Jerusalem, 18 April, 2023 (TPS) -- SOFIA, 18.04.2023 (BTA)
“The Bulgarian Jews and the Final Solution, 1940-1944” by American historian Frederick B. Chary (1939-2020) was published in Bulgarian by Ciela, the publishers said on Tuesday.

The book was first published in English in 1972.

The volume has a forward by Ivanka Gezenko from the Archives State Agency and an afterword by Prof. Ivan Ilchev.

Prof. Chary visited Bulgaria several times and based his book on German, Bulgarian and Israeli archives, published and unpublished Bulgarian sources, as well as personal interviews with survivors and former diplomats and officials.

The historian explores the economic and political conditions that determined the complex situation in which Bulgaria found itself as an ally of the Third Reich. Prof. Chary traces Bulgaria’s involvement in World War II, analyzes the peaceful relations between Jews and other ethnic groups in the country, and reviews anti-Jewish policies.

The book also explores the attitudes of various segments of the ruling circles and society in Bulgaria towards the Jewish question. The author describes the role of clergymen, politicians, public figures and ordinary people in rescuing the Jews in Bulgaria’s territory.