The Iron Fist: Inside the Archives of the Bulgarian Secret Police (Paperback)

~ Alexenia Dimitrova (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

During the Soviet era, Bulgaria’s secret police was a mirror image of the KGB. Family members spied on each other, as did friends; private mail or telephone conversations did not exist. Many notorious "dissidents" were stooges of the secret police. People disappeared from shop queues and church doorsteps or were spirited away in the early hours of the morning from their homes. Some never returned, others returned as shadows of their former selves… broken, brainwashed, crippled.

Through interviews and extant archives, international journalist Alexenia Dimitrova documents a brutal truth that is rapidly being whitewashed over.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Artnik (February 27, 2005)
• ISBN-10: 1903906148
• ISBN-13: 978-1903906149
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,853,053 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely great reading!, July 14, 2005

By	Lou Georgieff "USAF CMSGT, retired" (TX) - See all my reviews

My grandfather came to the USA from Bulgaria, then lived in Canada until his death. As I was in the military, I was the only grandchild not to meet him when he returned to the US to visit. Alexenia Dimitrova's powerful account of Bulgaria during and after communism rule is probably the main reason he did not return to Bulgaria nor communicated with relatives there. Whether you have, or had, relatives in Bulgaria, or other Eastern communist bloc countries, this is a must read. Anyone wondering about life during the old Soviet bloc regimes will find this an amazing description of the times the people lived through.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The real face of the communist regime, September 20, 2005

By	Chris Kostov (Ottawa, Canada) - See all my reviews

A fascinating book revealing terrible but true facts about an antihuman regime that stopped the development of Eastern Europe for more than four decades. A must read for all academic readers dealing with modern Eastern European history and political science and a great reading for all other readers, interested in the communist crimes in Bulgaria and Eastern Europe.
After researching thousands of pages of secret documents, prepared by the spooky Bulgarian communist secret service- DS (State Security) and FBI, Alexenia Dimitrova managed to write a powerful account about the activities of the Bulgarian secret service during the Cold War. Gruesome murders, extortions, kidnappings, imprisoning of free thinkers, targeting and profiling of Bulgarian immigrants were an integral part of the Bulgarian communist secret service schedule.
It is definitely a book, which can keep every reader's attention from cover to cover.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!, July 13, 2005

By	C. Woller (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book gives much insight into the era of communism in Bulgaria from the author's personal experiences. A must read so we don't forget and let it happen again. The book is an easy read but packs a powerful punch. You won't be bored and you will learn much. Get this book!