Iron Fist

By Alexenia Dimitrova

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... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1903906148
• ISBN13: 9781903906149
• Release Date: February 2005
• Publisher: Top Spot Publishing
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Best look at the inner workings of communism that I have ever read

I am of Bulgarian descent, and even though my Grandfather (from Obretenik) died before I could know him, I have always considered myself Bulgarian. The author's father suffered at the hands of the communists because he believed in truth, honor and freedom. The author herself was 26 when communism was overturned in 1989, and she knows that her father would have lived a much longer life had he not been interred in concentration camps several times. How much sadness communism has caused! How much wasted potential and how many resources were wasted having citizens spy on each other and mail read, phone conversations intercepted! It is sure to change your view of communism -- and give you an added respect and love for freedom -- after you read this compelling account of a beautiful and majestic country in the iron fist of unfeeling, cold and cruel communism. I can't imagine having lived through all of this, and Alexenia Dimitrova did an excellent job of explaining the ins and outs of the lives of those who lived through it. Until I read Alexenia's book, I never understood the enormity of what he did by leaving Bulgaria when he was only 15 in 1915. Enduring WWI and WWII while his brothers and sisters remained in Bulgaria, with Bulgaria being on the other side of both conflicts, must have been extraordinarily painful for him. A must-read for all persons, especially of Bulgarian descent.

The real face of the communist regime

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.

Absolutely great reading!

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.

A must read!

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!