Dobrich

On 5-7 September 1916, during the First World War, the Bulgarians with Ottoman and German support fought Romanian, Russian and Serb armies for control over Dobrich. The push was successful. The Bulgaria-led forces continued farther northeast. 

What remained were the dead. Interments in Dobrich of the fallen from both sides started as soon as the battle ended. Until 1918, a total of 3,500 soldiers from 6 armies, 10 ethnicities and 5 confessions were buried in it.

Jews were among these.

Through the decades, the military cemetery was redesigned several times. Today, it is a museum. 

The former synagogue in Dobrich, in northeastern Bulgaria, is nothing remarkable on the outside, and since the 1950s has been used as a choir rehearsal hall. There is a sign in English indicating the building's history. Yet Dobrich's former synagogue has somehow avoided the fate of many other synagogues throughout Bulgaria that were turned into warehouses, sports halls or galleries: it was never partitioned. Its elegant balcony still remains, though no one dares to climb up to it any longer as the structure is in urgent need of repair. The empty chairs used by dozens of Jewish women are still there but they have not been sat upon for service in over 60 years.