TR.6 - Documentation of the People's Court in Bulgaria, 1944-1945

TR.6 - Documentation of the People's Court in Bulgaria, 1944-1945 The People's Court was active in Bulgaria from 19 December 1944 until April 1945. It was set up as a special court with the purpose of bringing to trial those people accused of collaboration with the authorities between 01 January 1941 and 09 September 1944. While it was in session, the People's Court handed down approximately 9,550 verdicts leading to the execution of 2,680 people, while the rest of the defendants were sentenced to terms in prison. Among those found guilty was Dimitar Peshev, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Bulgaria, who was in office in 1943 and worked to rescue the Jews of Bulgaria [from deportation]. Peshev was later recognized as a Righteous Among the Nations. The Seventh Panel of the People's Court dealt with accusations against those who had been responsible for the anti-Jewish policy during the war and its implementation. Among those tried were Commissariat for Jewish Questions (KEV) officials, guards, the staff in the forced labor camps and others. There are 12 files in the Record Group, each one of which contains documentation regarding one day's court sitting. The files were adjudicated between 16 March 1945 (Court Sitting Number 9) and 31 March 1945 (Court Sitting Number 20).