Photograph of a couple from Bulgaria with a button yellow badge

Photograph of a couple - the man wears a button yellow badge on his suit - the badge of shame for Jews in Bulgaria - Bulgaria, November 1943. Divided back for use as a postcard with handwritten details of addressee and date. In January 1941, Bulgaria's parliament approved the Law for Protection of the Nation, similar to the Nuremberg Laws. Two months later, Bulgaria joined the Tripartite Pact and became an ally of the Axis powers. Despite widespread opposition in Bulgaria to anti Jewish legislation, the government issued an order on August 26, 1942 requiring Jews ages 6 and older to wear an identifying mark. At the same time, the Bulgarian Interior Ministry established the "Commission for Jewish Affairs" headed by lawyer Alexander Belev - a leader of the extreme right organization "Ratnik" - who dictated the new antisemitic laws. Unlike cloth badges in other countries, Jews in Bulgaria were marked with a small plastic button shaped like a yellow Star of David. However, due to local population and church opposition, the order was not fully enforced and only about one-fifth of Bulgaria's Jews wore the badge. Size: 9x14 cm. Good condition.