Bulgarians commemorate protests that saved Jewish countrymen
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SOFIA, Bulgaria - Ceremonies are being held in Bulgaria Monday to commemorate the massive protests that saved the country's Jews from deportation to Nazi death camps during the Second World War.
The laying of flowers at memorials in the capital of Sofia and other large cities is to mark the 65th anniversary of protests by Bulgarian clergymen, intellectuals, politicians and others.
In 1943, the pro-fascist government of Germany's ally, Bulgaria, signed a secret agreement with the Nazis to deport 20,000 Jews to death camps in Poland.
This plan was partially put into effect, with more than 11,000 Jews of the Bulgarian-administered territories of Macedonia and Thrace being sent to the death camps.
But thanks to the efforts of the then vice-president of parliament, Dimitar Peshev, the deportation of some 48,000 Bulgarian citizens of Jewish origin was prevented.
Peshev galvanized 42 fellow legislators to sign a protest petition to the king. Meanwhile, Orthodox Church leaders also spoke out, and professors, doctors, lawyers, students, labour leaders and peasants staged protests, including marches and street demonstrations.
Later, King Boris told the Nazi leadership that he needed the Jews as construction workers. He moved them into labour camps, but refused to deport them or hand them over to the Nazis.
Bulgaria's refusal to heed Nazi orders saved all of its 48,000 Jews from being deported to death camps.
Peshev and the archbishops of Sofia and Plovdiv have been honoured as Righteous Gentiles by the Israeli Yad Vashem Institute.
About 45,000 of Bulgaria's Jews emigrated to Israel after its establishment in 1948. Today's Bulgarian Jewish community numbers about 6,000, most of whom live in Sofia.
CANOE -- CNEWS - World: Bulgarians commemorate protests that saved Jewish countrymen
Bulgarians commemorate protests that saved Jewish countrymen
For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman. 
