Yellow button badge - the badge of shame of the Jews of Bulgaria - Bulgaria, c. 1942

Yellow patch button that Jews in Bulgaria were required to wear on the front of their clothing as a mark of identification and shame – Bulgaria, C.1942.

In January 1941, the Law for the Protection of the Nation was passed in the Bulgarian Parliament, which was similar in its format to the Nuremberg Laws, and two months later Bulgaria joined the Tripartite Pact and became an ally of the Axis countries. Despite widespread opposition in Bulgaria to anti-Jewish legislation, on August 26, 1942 the government issued a decree ordering Jews aged 6 and over to wear an identifying mark. At the same time, the Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior established the "Commission for Jewish Affairs" department, which was headed by the lawyer Alexander Belev - one of the leaders of the extreme right-wing organization "Ratnik", who dictated the new antisemitic laws. Unlike badges made of cloth in other countries, Bulgarian Jews were marked with a small plastic button in the shape of a yellow Star of David. However, due to the opposition of the local population and the opposition of the church, the decree was not fully enforced and only about a fifth of Bulgaria's Jews wore the badge, hence its rarity.

3.5x3.5 cm. Very good condition.