Street demonstrations are reported today to have taken place in Sofia, capital of Bulgaria, in protest against the decree ordering the 25,000 Jews in the city to leave their homes “voluntarily” and move to specially designated provincial districts within three days or face deportation.
The demonstrations broke out on Monday noon, as soon as the news of the expulsion order spread throughout the city. Crowds gathered in various parts of Sofia shouting “we want the Jews to remain” and charging the Bulgarian Government with being a tool in the hands of the Nazis. Strong police reinforcements were used to disperse the angry crowds. Several hundred demonstrators were arrested. Police also raided a synagogue where Jews had gathered to pray before leaving the cit.
With the expulsion order expiring today, it was assumed here that the pro-Jewish demonstrations brought about no change in the situation. No news has reached here as yet as to how the Jewish exodus from Sofia is being carried out. The Bulgarian demonstrations were reported today by the Nazi news agency, DNB, which estimated that there are 60,000 Jews at present in the whole of Bulgaria.
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