Licco Max Haim (1910-2002), an amateur filmmaker, was asked by the military commander of the 4th Construction Company of the 1st (Jewish) Labor Battalion to make a film of their activities and deliver it to him. Licco did so, but managed to hide one 8mm roll (Film ID 4115), shot in the summer of 1941 to build a road in Lakatnik as part of the forced labor battalion. Most of the Jewish men in the unit had resided in Sofia, mostly in the neighborhood of Iuchbunar. After the summer of 1941, Licco was summoned to work on the repair of cars in Sofia, as he was expert as a mechanic. He married Berta on December 18, 1941.
Anny could be the name of Licco's cousin who did the matchmaking between Licco and his wife Berta.
In early March 1941, Bulgaria joined the Axis alliance and, in April 1941, participated in the German-led attack on Yugoslavia and Greece. In return, Bulgaria received German authorization to occupy most of Greek Thrace, Yugoslav Macedonia, and Pirot County in eastern Serbia. Beginning in July 1940, Bulgarian authorities instituted anti-Jewish legislation that excluded Jews from public service, restricted their choice of places of residence, and restricted their participation in many occupations. However, during the war, German-allied Bulgaria did not deport Jews from the core provinces of Bulgaria. All male Bulgarian Jews were sent to forced labor camps in Bulgaria to build roads and bridges. In 1941, the Bulgarian military oversaw the labor camps and under their rule the treatment of Jewish nationals was harsh, but not completely unhuman. Males aged 20-46 were drafted. Later, the security forces took over managing the labor camps, and conditions worsened. Still, most of Bulgaria's Jews survived the war; in fact, the Jewish population remained the same as it was in 1939 (roughly 50,000), though almost 90% left the country by 1950.
AGFA 8 1940. Handwritten title"Sommer 1940 GÖSEKE" (the Turkish name for the town of Obzor situated in southeastern Bulgaria where the Balkan mountains meet the Black Sea). A still image of the group of friends with their names: Fredy, Anny, Loli, Paula, Anny, Licco, Kete, Hans, Peter. 01:00:14 Title with 23 August 1940 date,"Waterlilies - Kamshi" (river in northeastern Bulgaria). A bearded man is filmed from inside a boat as he rows down a river. They pass other boats with friends. Lily-pads. CU, one boat filled with friends called"Baph". CUs of friends. 01:06:49 [COLOR] Title with 27/28 August dates,"On the Beach - Kamshia - Obzo". The group frolics on the beach and swims in the ocean. 01:12:23 Licco runs out of the waves. Eating grapes. [B/W] Ocean waves. The group at leisure, swimming and dancing. 01:15:51 [COLOR] Title with 29 August date,"In the Fores". The group of friends climb trees, hike, read and picnic outside near the beach on holiday. AGFA 8 1940 [8 distinguishes the film gauge of 8mm].
Licco Haim and friends visit the beach