Assen Suitschmesow

Assen Grigorov Suitschmesow (also Asen Grigorov Suichmezov written Bulgarian Асен Григоров Суичмезов * 6. July 1899 in Kyustendil , † 4. July 1978 ) was a Bulgarian businessman. He was known as Righteous Among the Nations , who saved the Bulgarian Jews from deportation to concentration camps during World War II .

Life

Suitschmesow was born in Kyustendil, the son of a family of merchants who lived in the city's Jewish quarter. He was involved in the Jewish community and was a valued businessman, he was also a board member of a local bank and owner of a leather jacket factory. His close relationships with the Jewish community in Kyustendil made him the target of attacks by fascist movements several times.

The rescue of the Bulgarian Jews in World War II

With the outbreak of World War II Bulgaria declared its neutrality, but the government pursued a pro-German line with the aim of regaining the territories lost in the Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine with the support of a leading European power . This resulted in anti-Semitic policies against the Jewish population.

On January 23, 1941, the Bulgarian People's Defense Law was published, which was similar to the Nuremberg Laws . On March 1, 1941, the Bulgarian Prime Minister Bogdan Filov signed the Tripartite Pact in Vienna , which made Bulgaria an ally of the Axis Powers and the Wehrmacht was able to conquer the kingdoms of Yugoslavia and Greece. On February 22, 1943, the Bulgarian government approved the deportation of Jews from the annexed areas to concentration camps in a contract signed by Alexander Belev and Theodor Dannecker , close collaborators of Adolf Eichmann and Jewish advisor .

As early as March 1, 1943, the Bulgarian police began taking photos of people in Jewish homes. Three days later the deportation of the Jews from Macedonia , Thrace and Pirot to the Treblinka extermination camp began .

On March 6, 1943, the Jews from Kyustendil were ordered to prepare for the deportation with food and clothing that should last for a few days. As a result, Jewish community leaders turned to public figures for assistance in lifting the order. With the intention of preventing the deportation as a delegation, delegates wanted to make their way to Sofia , but were stopped by the mayor by not providing fuel for the automobiles. Suitschmesow agreed to rent carriages to take the delegation to the nearest train station. His son Gregor supported the action by informing them of the arrival of the deportation trains in the city.

The government put massive pressure on the delegation. From the initial 40-strong delegation, only four people remained, including Suitschmesow. When the rumors about the deportation spread to Sofia, the Jewish community leaders turned to Suitschmezov with the request to inform them about the happenings in Kyustendil.

When the delegates arrived in Sofia, they turned to the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Dimitar Peschew . Suitschmezov reported on the desperation of the Jews in the city, but the majority of government officials refused to believe or listen to the reports.

Later the delegates met with the Bulgarian Interior Minister Peter Gabrovski, with the aim of having the deportation order lifted and arguing that the deportation law of Jews from "old Bulgaria" was illegal and that the order only applied to the annexed areas refer. At first the interior minister denied the existence of the deportation order, but after his life was threatened, he admitted the ordered deportation for March 10, 1943 and then ordered the mayor to forbid the deportation. This news spread very quickly in the Jewish community, so that joyful dances took place in front of the parliament in Sofia to celebrate the delegates. On the morning of March 10, 1943, the Suitschmesow house in Kyustendil was attacked by fascists . Windows and walls were destroyed and smeared. Several Jews from Kyustendil then voluntarily gathered to rebuild Suitschmezov's house.

After the communists came to power in Bulgaria, Suitschmezov lost his belongings and suffered from poor health. After some members of the Jewish community from Kyustendil emigrated to Israel, Suitschmezov was financially supported by the board of the community and appreciated over the years. Suitschmezov was recognized as Righteous Among the Nations by the Yad Vashem Memorial to the Martyrs and Heroes of the State of Israel in the Holocaust .

Suitschmezov died in 1978. A street in Kyustendil was named after him.

See also

• Rescue the Bulgarian Jews

Web links

• Suitschmezow on the Righteous Among the Nations website