There are moments in history when human courage outweighs power, weapons, and orders from above. One of those moments took place in Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second-largest city, in March 1943. Here, a dramatic episode unfolded that became a symbol of what is today known as “The Rescue of the Bulgarian Jews.”

Despite Bulgaria’s alliance with Nazi Germany during World War II, the country – uniquely among the Axis powers – managed to prevent the deportation of nearly all of its Jewish population. Around 50,000 Bulgarian Jews were saved from transport to Nazi death camps. The events in Plovdiv became a turning point in this historical narrative.

Background – Bulgaria and Germany

Bulgaria joined the war on Germany’s side in 1941. The government under Tsar Boris III primarily sought to reclaim territories lost after World War I. Through the alliance with Hitler, Bulgaria gained control over Thrace, Macedonia, and Pirot.

As part of the alliance, anti-Jewish laws were introduced. Already in 1940, the so-called “Law for the Defense of the Nation” was passed – heavily inspired by the Nuremberg Laws. It banned Jews from certain professions, prohibited land ownership, and required them to carry special identification.

By 1942–1943, pressure from Berlin increased. Adolf Eichmann’s network orchestrated deportations across occupied Europe. On February 22, 1943, Bulgaria’s Commissar for Jewish Affairs, Alexander Belev, signed an agreement with Germany to deport 20,000 Jews. The plan was clear: 12,000 would be taken from the newly occupied territories, and 8,000 from Bulgaria proper.

March 1943 – The Deportations Begin

In early March 1943, deportations began. From Thrace and Macedonia, thousands of Jews were rounded up under brutal conditions and sent to extermination camps like Treblinka. Almost none returned.

When the turn came for Bulgaria proper, the plan met resistance. On March 9, about 1,500 Jews were gathered in Plovdiv. Ordered to bring only essentials, they were herded into the city’s Jewish school. There they waited in fear, preparing for transport toward the trains.

Metropolitan Kiril – The Spiritual Leader Who Defied Orders

It was here that Metropolitan Kiril (later Patriarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church) entered history. When he learned what was happening, he rushed to the school where the Jews were being held.

According to several accounts, he forced his way past the guards and entered the building. Addressing the terrified Jews, he gave a powerful speech, promising not to abandon them. Kiril is remembered as saying:

“Do not be afraid! God will not allow you to perish. I will be with you, and if they take you, I will lie down on the tracks in front of the train.”

He even threatened civil disobedience against the state itself. Such defiance, from a senior church leader, carried immense symbolic weight.

Civil Courage in Action

Kiril was not alone. In Plovdiv, protests had already begun days earlier. Craft guilds, doctors, lawyers, and merchants had signed petitions. Ordinary citizens openly voiced outrage.

At the national level, there was also strong opposition. Most notable was Dimitar Peshev, deputy speaker of parliament, who organized a petition signed by 42 MPs. His actions played a decisive role in halting the deportations throughout Bulgaria.

The Outcome in Plovdiv

On March 10, 1943, the Jews in Plovdiv were informed they would not be deported. The transports were canceled. Instead, they were sent home – still subject to discriminatory laws and restrictions, but alive.

This moment became a turning point. The events in Plovdiv inspired broader resistance, and the government did not dare carry out deportations of Bulgarian Jews thereafter.

The Paradox – Rescue and Tragedy

When speaking of “the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews,” one must also acknowledge the paradox. While almost all Jews within pre-war Bulgaria were saved, more than 11,000 Jews from the occupied territories of Macedonia, Thrace, and Pirot were deported. They were not Bulgarian citizens and did not benefit from the civic and ecclesiastical resistance. Most were murdered in Treblinka.

Thus, the story is twofold: a celebrated rescue that stands out in Holocaust history, but also a tragedy that underlines the scope of Nazi brutality.

Remembering After the War

After the war, the events in Plovdiv took on near-mythical status in Bulgaria.

• Metropolitan Kiril was honored in Israel as one of the “Righteous Among the Nations.”

• Dimitar Peshev, who was later imprisoned by the communists, was also posthumously recognized as a hero.

• In Plovdiv, monuments were erected, and every year on March 10 memorial ceremonies are held – this date is now Bulgaria’s official Holocaust remembrance day.

Moral Lessons

The events in Plovdiv highlight something essential: even in times of dictatorship and oppression, individual courage can change the course of history.

• Civil courage: Ordinary citizens and professional groups dared to protest despite the risks.

• The church’s role: The Bulgarian Orthodox Church, through Kiril and other bishops, took a rare stand in defense of the Jews.

• Political influence: Peshev and other politicians showed that even within an authoritarian system, change was possible.

Plovdiv Today – A City That Remembers

Today, Plovdiv preserves the memory of these events. The Jewish cultural heritage remains in the synagogue, in monuments, and in the stories passed on to younger generations.

The city holds pride in having defied Nazism – but also bears the awareness that not all were saved. This duality of pride and grief makes the history so important to remember.

Reflection

The events in Plovdiv remind us that human choices always matter. Despite Bulgaria’s alliance with Nazi Germany, despite harsh laws and a repressive regime, people stopped the deportations.

That 50,000 Bulgarian Jews survived the war remains one of the most remarkable exceptions in Holocaust history. And at its center are those days in March 1943, when Jews in Plovdiv waited for deportation – and a metropolitan, a group of citizens, and a wave of protests put everything at stake to save them.

Concluding Words

It is easy to believe history is written only by armies, governments, and superpowers. But Plovdiv in 1943 shows us that history is also written by those who refuse to obey when injustice knocks on the door.

Metropolitan Kiril and the brave citizens of Plovdiv became symbols of a simple but vital truth: sometimes, it is enough to say no – and mean it – to save thousands of lives.