Beyond Hitler's Grasp: The Heroic Rescue of Bulgaria's Jews

by Michael Bar-Zohar, Michael Bar Zohar

Details how the Jews in Bulgaria were rescued from deportation to Nazi concentration camps by a crew of public and private individuals

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Bulgaria, Holocaust, Jewish, World War II

298 pages, Hardcover

First published November 30, 1998

About the author

Professor Michael Bar-Zohar (Hebrew: מיכאל בר-זהר) was a member of Knesset (Labour) and wrote the official biography of David Ben Gurion. He has written thirty non-fiction books, and has been translated into sixteen languages, winning many international prizes. He is currently working on a biography of Shimon Peres.

Has written under the pseudonym Michael Barak.

Reviews

[Ina Cawl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Due to the general absence of anti- Semitism in Bulgaria,the Jews of Bulgaria were spared the terrible fate of so many other Jews in the region
although the Bulgarian King Allied with the German and thought that the German Aid was needed to reclaim bulgarian lost territories to Greece and Romania they [the Bulgarian Goverment and Facists in the Goverament] refused to hand Jews to the Nazis.
Michael Bar-Zohar writes in this book that the :- "the Bulgarian Jews became the only Jewish community in the Nazi sphere of influence whose number increased during World War II."
this book which is a fine contribution to Holocaust Studies teaches us how Bulgarian Jews were saved from the Holocaust although they were persecuted.
how Bulgarian Jews survived the Holocaust you should read this book to know more about this dark epoch in Mankind History

[Rob Kitchin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bar-Zohar tells the history of how Bulgarian Jews were saved, detailing the principle events and characters, based on first hand testimony and archival research. For the most part the book provides a fascinating account of anti-Semitism and its resistance in Bulgaria. However, there are bits of the narrative that are contradictory, which somewhat undermines confidence in the story being told. For example, it is argued that before the war Jews had full equality, and yet they could not enter politics. It’s noted that King Boris manipulated the political scene so that he had absolute power to appoint and dismiss government ministers, yet it’s stated that he was a democrat and enlightened. He was a simple and modest man, yet he was known as ‘the fox’ for his cunning and cleverness. Bulgarian people essentially had no issues with Jewish people and yet it had a range of anti-Semitic events and policy, adopted laws based on Germany’s Nuremburg laws, and had an active anti-Semitic government throughout the war. The Bulgarian Jews were saved, yet 11,000 Jews of Macedonia and Thrace, which became Bulgarian territories, were sent to the death camps. These kind of paradoxical observations challenge the argument being advanced and certainly left doubts in my mind as to the veracity of all parts of the story. I don’t for one minute doubt that a small number of parliamentarians and church leaders did fight and block the expulsion of Bulgarian Jews, but there is a fair amount of supposition and speculation as to the role of King Boris and other leading figures and how events actually unfolded. This is to a certain extent inevitable, but Bar-Zohar never really fills the reader with confidence that his version of the story is the full truth, but rather presents one, partial version of it. The result is a little disconcerting and unsettling. Overall, an interesting book about an important coda to the holocaust in Europe, but one feels that it is not the definitive account.

[Hermien · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good preparation for my trip to Bulgaria.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned more about what different countries did for or against the Jews. I did not know anything about King Boris, or how they saved a whole nation of Jews. I was amazed that Germany did not push the issue, and all the cat and mouse games played that helped them win. It was sad that they did not stand up for the Thracian or Macedonian Jews, yet actually occupied the country for Germany.

[Claire Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can be achieved when a population refuses to buy into hate, representatives stand up for humanity against their own government, and a national leader refuses to cave to the demands of a foreign dictator.

[Nevena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and beautifully written.

[Ken Moskowitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book shows n signs of professional editing, with its typos and non-English locutions. There is also an amateurish quality, such as the evidence being the author's relatives and the long digressions on the love affairs of several female secretaries in Bulgarian government agencies. Still, there's a good story here. I also wished the author had asked or considered obvious questions such as what the Jewish victims knew about what their ultimate fate would be, and how the Bulgarian quasi-Fascist officials could converse in a civil way with Bulgarian Jewish leaders without the latter flatly asking, "Aren't you trying to murder us all?"

There are also excellent moral lessons and a useful corrective to the current reigning realism, as opposed to Wilsonian idealism, in foreign policy. The only Bulgarian government (and Orthodox church) officials who said "no" or raised objections to the project of genocide were idealists and moralists.

[Glenn Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

As we enter an new period of Berlin 1938 with world-wide anti-Semitism and calls to the death of Jews worldwide, the importance of learning of the past is more important than ever. During my recent visit to Sofia, I was struck by the embrace and welcome of Jews, so I wanted to learn more. Sofia is home to the largest synagogue of Eastern Europe.

This book shows that Bulgaria is the only country that did not surrender one Jew to Germany. Denmark is well known for saving most of the Danish Jews, but a number were murdered. The king of Bulgaria tricked Hitler a number of times to save the Jews and this book shows what happened, how close the Jews almost were wiped out and what happened to save them.

[Francie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to learn about how Bulgaria managed to save the Bulgarian Jews while actually being one of Germany's allies - but this book was very clinical and too boring for my liking. I love that the Bulgarian people were willing to make a stand and not deport their Jewish citizens like so many other countries. I just wish someone had written a much more interesting book about it.

[Galina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Рядко попадам на книга, която да ме разплаче. Тази е от тях.

[Judie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had some problems with the contradictions in this book.

[Adria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift while working in Bulgaria. It is an interesting story with a remarkable outcome.

[Greg Winkler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting and engaging story of how Bulgaria avoided deporting Jews to Germany despite intense pressure from Hitler; slice of history that is not widely known.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having met a Bulgarian Holocaust survivor, I was compelled to learn more about this chapter in the story of the war. The story is pretty incredible, since the king, church, and members of the Bulgarian fascist party opposed deportation of Jewish citizens. Of course, they did deport from occupied territories...

The book reads something like a memoir and a pep rally, but there are a few good criticisms of the various personalities and parties. Not terribly academic, but kind of uplifting. The author's family history is part of the narrative.

[Susan Pober · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well researched book about a little known piece of Holocaust history. During the war Bulgaria was an ally of Germany, yet not one Bulgarian Jew (over 50,000) was sent to a concentration camp. With the help of the citizens, the leaders of the Bulgarian church & the king, the Jews of Bulgaria survived. It's a gripping tale with many unknown heroes who fought for humanity.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have ever watched World at War or Schindlers List and felt a great sadness and sorrow... then this book will move you too.

It is a story of heroism and opposition to the will of Nazi Germany - a story that I am ashamed to admit that I was ignorant of before this book.

[Abel Keogh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about the little known efforts of Bulgarians to save most of the Jewish borthers and sisters from the concentration camps. A must read.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read about a part of the Holocaust I knew nothing about. Well written and researched.

[Denise DeRocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

An outstanding account of a little-known hero called Bulgaria. I would love to visit it someday.

[Ellen]

A good historical summary of the politics of Bulgaria, specifically involving the Jews, in 1942-44. I never knew any of this, and what good people the Bulgarians (were) are.

[Matty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice and informative read