Beyond Hitler's Grasp by Michael Bar-Zohar

Beyond Hitler's Grasp Reviews

• 
  Ina Cawl

  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

  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.
• 
  Janet

  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.
• 
  Nevena

  Well researched and beautifully written.
• 
  Galina

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

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

  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.
• 
  John

  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

  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

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

  Very nice and informative read