The Jewish People’s Cooperative Society “Atikva” in Plovdiv (1931–1941)

The history of the Plovdiv Jewish People‘s Cooperative Society “Atikva” has not been the subject of research, despite the rich documentary fund preserved in the State Archives, Plovdiv. The society was created and developed in a complex economic and political context. In its activities, it is guided by principles characteristic of its relevance: formation of strong equity capital based on thrift, lending solely for business purposes, ensuring maximum return on loans guaranteed by the shares owned, etc. When “Atikva” was at the highest point of its development, it experienced an internal crisis related to challenging the legitimacy of the management bodies. The society upholds and preserves its democracy in the conditions of antiliberal regime in the country. In early 1941, as a result of the discriminatory anti-Jewish legislation, it merged with the Plovdiv Popular Bank, which was effectively the end of its existence. Keywords: Plovdiv, Jews, cooperative credit societies, “Atikva”, state policy.