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I was impressed that I wasn’t harassed by Ratniks [14] or by Legionaries [see Bulgarian Legions] [15] after the Law for the Protection of the Nation [16] was passed. In Kazanlak there wasn’t much of an anti-Semitic attitude. And Ruse was a conservative town, because it was rich.
After the Law for the Protection of the Nation was passed groups such as the Branniks [17] and Legionaries were immediately organized in Ruse. I was the only Jew in the class. I remember when we were given the yellow stars, the Branniks and the Legionaries who were in the technical school started harassing us, the Jews in Ruse. But, fortunately, I had some kind of protectors – some of my classmates. A classmate of mine Gavrail Zahariev regularly protected me, although his uncle was a fascist minister at that time; I’ve forgotten his name. He was my bodyguard. It was very difficult to instill hatred in the Bulgarian people towards the people whom they see every day and who are their friends.
After the Law for the Protection of the Nation was passed groups such as the Branniks [17] and Legionaries were immediately organized in Ruse. I was the only Jew in the class. I remember when we were given the yellow stars, the Branniks and the Legionaries who were in the technical school started harassing us, the Jews in Ruse. But, fortunately, I had some kind of protectors – some of my classmates. A classmate of mine Gavrail Zahariev regularly protected me, although his uncle was a fascist minister at that time; I’ve forgotten his name. He was my bodyguard. It was very difficult to instill hatred in the Bulgarian people towards the people whom they see every day and who are their friends.
Period
Year
1941
Location
Ruse
Bulgaria
Interview
Rafael Beraha