Prof. Vili Lilkov: Bulgarian People and the Elite Played Essential Role in Jews' Rescue

The credit for the salvation of Bulgarian Jews during World War II goes to the Bulgarian people and the Bulgarian elite: industrialists, writers, intellectuals, politicians and Rotarians, says physics professor Vili Lilkov. He spoke to BTA on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews.

"The fact that the Defence of the Nation Act did not go to extremes and that the whole history of the Jews did not end with sending them to concentration camps, is very much due to the Bulgarian elite, who, unfortunately after the September 9, 1944 coup d'etat received real severe blows from the new government, including physical destruction," he said.

He told BTA about a long list of little known people who played a huge role in the salvation of Bulgarian Jews.

He underscored the assessment of the Bulgarian Jews in Israel, the vast majority of whom say that Bulgaria had rescued its Jews. He pointed out that the Bulgarian society functioned within old Bulgaria and what was called "the New Lands" in Vardar Macedonia and Aegean Thrace had Bulgarian administration but were in reality under German occupation. "The Bulgarian power-holders and the elite could not be held responsible for what happened there. At that time few people were aware of the intentions vis-a-vis the Jews in the Aegean region and Macedonia," the professor said.

He is adamant that there was no anti-Semitism in Bulgaria - and certainly nothing like it was in Germany or France. He believes the reason is that Bulgarian Jews were very well integrated in the Bulgarian society. At that time Bulgaria had no Fascist party, certainly not one on power or even less a national-socialist or anti-Semitic government or a recognizable Fascist leader. Any anti-Semitism there may have been, was local and on a low level, Prof. Lilkov said. He would not accept to see the Jewish issue used to suggest that Bulgaria was a Fascist state and that King Boris III himself was a Fascist.

Vili Lilkov is a professor of physics and Doctor of Sciences who for many years headed the physics department at the St Ivan Rilski University of Mining and Geology. From 1999 to 2014, he was municipal councilor and deputy chairman of the Sofia Municipal Council. He was a national representative in the 43rd National Assembly. 

Lilkov co-authored the books "Former People according to State Security Classification" and "The Ruined Bulgaria". In his book "Valour and Punishment: The People's Court and State Security v. the Rescuers of Bulgarian Jews", Lilkov tells the story of little-known individuals who defended the Bulgarian Jews in World War II.