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Antisemitism in the Soviet Union
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Antisemitism in the Soviet Union
Following the 1917 February Revolution in Russia, all legal restrictions on Russian Jews were lifted. However, the previous legacy of antisemitism was continued and furthered by the Soviet state, especially under Joseph Stalin. After 1948, antisemitism reached new heights in the Soviet Union, especially during the anti-cosmopolitan campaign, in which numerous Yiddish-writing poets, writers, painters and sculptors were arrested or killed. This campaign culminated in the so-called doctors' plot, in which a group of doctors (almost all of whom were Jewish) were subjected to a show trial for supposedly having plotted to assassinate Stalin. Although repression eased after Stalin's death, persecution of Jews would continue until the late 1980s (see: refuseniks).
Under the rule of the tsars, Russian Jews were classified as inorodtsy, although Judaism was recognized as a legitimate religion. Most Jews were confined to the Pale of Settlement, and by the end of the 19th century, they numbered roughly five million. Within the Pale, they experienced prejudice and persecution, often in the form of discriminatory laws, such as restrictions on property rights and occupations. Despite a relaxation of some constraints in the 1860s as a result of the government reforms of Alexander II, by the end of the decade, antisemitism had acquired a systematic form. The conservative press blamed increasing radicalism on the Jews. Following the assassination of Alexander II in 1881, widespread pogroms targeted Jews in the Pale. Local officials enabled the pogroms or failed to stop them, and some of the perpetrators and victims believed that the pogroms were sanctioned at the highest level of government. Although the new tsar, Alexander III, viewed the pogroms as justified, he did not endorse popular violence. On the other hand, the right-wing press contributed to an atmosphere of sanctioned antisemitism.
In response to this oppression, many Jews either emigrated from the Russian Empire or joined radical political parties, such as the Jewish Bund, the Bolsheviks, the Socialist Revolutionary Party, and the Mensheviks. There were also numerous antisemitic publications of the era which gained widespread circulation.
The Russian Provisional Government cancelled all restrictions imposed on the Jews by the tsarist government, in a move parallel to the Jewish emancipation in Western Europe that had taken place during the 19th century abolishing Jewish disabilities.[citation needed]
The October Revolution saw the Bolsheviks take power. The breakdown of other Jewish groups after the revolution gave the Yevsektsiya more sway over Jewish communities which facilitated the destruction of traditional Jewish life, the Zionist movement, and Hebrew culture. In 1918, the Yevsektsiya was established to promote Marxism, secularism and Jewish assimilation into Soviet society, and supposedly bringing communism to the Jewish masses.
In March 1919, Lenin delivered a speech "On Anti-Jewish Pogroms" where he denounced antisemitism as an "attempt to divert the hatred of the workers and peasants from the exploiters toward the Jews". The speech was in line with the previous condemnation of the antisemitic pogroms perpetrated by anti-Bolshevik forces (White Army, Ukrainian People's Army and others) during the Russian Civil War. In 1914, Lenin had said "No nationality in Russia is as oppressed and persecuted as the Jews".
However, pogroms continued during 1918-1920, carried out by both the Red and White armies. The Red Guard participation shocked Bolshevik leadership and tempered the expectations of a reduction of antisemitism. Russian historian Dmitri Volkogonov wrote that Lenin, despite his rhetoric, did not see antisemitic incidents in the Red Army as a major concern and did not call for the perpetrators to be punished.
In August 1919, Jewish properties, including synagogues, were seized by the Soviet government and many Jewish communities were dissolved. The anti-religious laws against all expressions of religion and religious education were being taken out on all religious groups, including the Jewish communities. Many rabbis and other religious officials were forced to resign from their posts under the threat of violent persecution. This type of persecution continued on into the 1920s.
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Antisemitism in the Soviet Union
Following the 1917 February Revolution in Russia, all legal restrictions on Russian Jews were lifted. However, the previous legacy of antisemitism was continued and furthered by the Soviet state, especially under Joseph Stalin. After 1948, antisemitism reached new heights in the Soviet Union, especially during the anti-cosmopolitan campaign, in which numerous Yiddish-writing poets, writers, painters and sculptors were arrested or killed. This campaign culminated in the so-called doctors' plot, in which a group of doctors (almost all of whom were Jewish) were subjected to a show trial for supposedly having plotted to assassinate Stalin. Although repression eased after Stalin's death, persecution of Jews would continue until the late 1980s (see: refuseniks).
Under the rule of the tsars, Russian Jews were classified as inorodtsy, although Judaism was recognized as a legitimate religion. Most Jews were confined to the Pale of Settlement, and by the end of the 19th century, they numbered roughly five million. Within the Pale, they experienced prejudice and persecution, often in the form of discriminatory laws, such as restrictions on property rights and occupations. Despite a relaxation of some constraints in the 1860s as a result of the government reforms of Alexander II, by the end of the decade, antisemitism had acquired a systematic form. The conservative press blamed increasing radicalism on the Jews. Following the assassination of Alexander II in 1881, widespread pogroms targeted Jews in the Pale. Local officials enabled the pogroms or failed to stop them, and some of the perpetrators and victims believed that the pogroms were sanctioned at the highest level of government. Although the new tsar, Alexander III, viewed the pogroms as justified, he did not endorse popular violence. On the other hand, the right-wing press contributed to an atmosphere of sanctioned antisemitism.
In response to this oppression, many Jews either emigrated from the Russian Empire or joined radical political parties, such as the Jewish Bund, the Bolsheviks, the Socialist Revolutionary Party, and the Mensheviks. There were also numerous antisemitic publications of the era which gained widespread circulation.
The Russian Provisional Government cancelled all restrictions imposed on the Jews by the tsarist government, in a move parallel to the Jewish emancipation in Western Europe that had taken place during the 19th century abolishing Jewish disabilities.[citation needed]
The October Revolution saw the Bolsheviks take power. The breakdown of other Jewish groups after the revolution gave the Yevsektsiya more sway over Jewish communities which facilitated the destruction of traditional Jewish life, the Zionist movement, and Hebrew culture. In 1918, the Yevsektsiya was established to promote Marxism, secularism and Jewish assimilation into Soviet society, and supposedly bringing communism to the Jewish masses.
In March 1919, Lenin delivered a speech "On Anti-Jewish Pogroms" where he denounced antisemitism as an "attempt to divert the hatred of the workers and peasants from the exploiters toward the Jews". The speech was in line with the previous condemnation of the antisemitic pogroms perpetrated by anti-Bolshevik forces (White Army, Ukrainian People's Army and others) during the Russian Civil War. In 1914, Lenin had said "No nationality in Russia is as oppressed and persecuted as the Jews".
However, pogroms continued during 1918-1920, carried out by both the Red and White armies. The Red Guard participation shocked Bolshevik leadership and tempered the expectations of a reduction of antisemitism. Russian historian Dmitri Volkogonov wrote that Lenin, despite his rhetoric, did not see antisemitic incidents in the Red Army as a major concern and did not call for the perpetrators to be punished.
In August 1919, Jewish properties, including synagogues, were seized by the Soviet government and many Jewish communities were dissolved. The anti-religious laws against all expressions of religion and religious education were being taken out on all religious groups, including the Jewish communities. Many rabbis and other religious officials were forced to resign from their posts under the threat of violent persecution. This type of persecution continued on into the 1920s.