Soviet Antisemitism
The Soviet Union, officially known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), was a powerful socialist state that existed from 1922 to 1991. It was the largest country in the world by land area, covering much of Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, and it played a major role in global politics during the 20th century. Joseph Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union when the modern State of Israel was created (in 1948). At the start, Stalin supported the establishment of the Jewish State. However, he didn’t like Israel’s alliance (partnership) with the United States, France, and the UK.
Just before he died in 1953, Stalin accused nine doctors, most of whom were Jewish, of planning to poison and kill Soviet leaders. These innocent doctors were arrested, tortured, interrogated in secret courts, and forced to ‘confess’ to their alleged crimes. It is believed that the aim of what became known as ‘The Doctors’ Plot” was to create suspicion and hatred of Jews and Zionists.
Around the same time, Stalin destroyed the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee, murdering many of its members for being ‘traitors’.
Jewish cultural references were removed from art works, Jewish workers were fired from their jobs, and Jews were banned from certain professions.
Soviet leadership describe their campaigns as ‘anti-Zionist’ rather than ‘anti-Jewish’ and said that Zionism was a threat to Communism and the Soviet Union.
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion
In the late 1890s, Russian secret police wrote a hoax (fake) document called The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. It pretended to be a secret document by Jewish elders (leaders) who were controlling world events. It was translated into many languages and became a powerful propaganda weapon for antisemitic groups worldwide.
In the 1920s, two British reporters, who had both lived in Russia before the war, promoted this document in newspaper articles in the UK. They said that Jews were trying ‘to destroy the white Gentile (non-Jewish) race’, become ‘kings over slaves’ and control the world.
The American car manufacturer, Henry Ford published the document in the United States.
Unfortunately this fake document continues to be circulated today and still influences extremists and antisemites everywhere. Many of the worst attacks against Jews have been carried out by people who believe this antisemitic hoax document to be real.
