A code of anti-Jewish regulations embracing the already existing anti-Semitic measures and adding several new restrictions was issued yesterday by the Bulgarian Government, according to a report from Sofia by the German Trans-Ocean news service.
The new code, as announced today, is the result of an authorization voted last month by the Bulgarian Parliament giving the government the right “to take whatever steps necessary to solve the Jewish problem.” It provides that:
1 – A special Commissariat for Jewish Affairs is to be established under the control of the Minister of the Interior Grabovski, who led the demand in Parliament for anti-Jewish legislation. This commissariat will be responsible for administering the decrees and will also control Jewish schools, synagogues and charitable organizations and institutions.
2 – Five to twelve percent of funds derived from the sale of property confiscated from Jews is to be used for the relief of destitute Jews.
3 – All Jews must wear a yellow Mogen David badge, with the exception of native Jews who have distinguished themselves in past wars and foreign Jews. They will be required to wear a red circle.
4 – The category of so-called privileged Jews is to be curtailed to include only those who were decorated for bravery or wounded in the last war and war orphans.
5 – Jewish shops and other businesses are to be marked as such.
6 – Inter-marriage between Jews and Christians is forbidden and severe punishment is provided for “rassenschande,” on offense hitherto not listed in the Bulgarian criminal code.
7 – Jews must live in certain restricted areas and will receive smaller food rations than the rest of the population.
8 – All Jews are to be ousted from Sofia as soon as possible.
9 – Jews may no longer patronize hotels, apartment houses and restaurants used Aryans. The proprietors of these are permitted to exclude Jews from the premises.
10 – Jews may employ only Jewish servants.
According to the most recent figures available, there are about 49,000 Jews among the approximately 6,000,000 people in Bulgaria. Another Nazi report broadcast today states that 40 Sofia Jews have been fined 1,000,000 leva each – about $12,000 at pre-war rates – for “violating the law against real estate speculation.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
