USSR anti-religious campaign (1928–1941)

The USSR anti-religious campaign (1928–1941) was a period of intensified persecution and suppression of organized religion and believers in the Soviet Union. While anti-religious sentiment and policies existed from the early days of the Bolshevik Revolution, this period marked a systematic and widespread effort to eliminate religious institutions and eradicate religious belief from Soviet society.

Background:

Prior to 1928, the Soviet government, while atheist in ideology, pursued a relatively restrained policy towards religion under the New Economic Policy (NEP). However, with the rise of Stalin and the launch of the First Five-Year Plan, the attitude shifted to aggressive suppression. Religion was seen as a hindrance to the rapid industrialization and collectivization goals, representing a backward and outdated worldview incompatible with socialist ideals.

Key Features of the Campaign:

• Closure and Destruction of Religious Buildings: Churches, mosques, synagogues, and other places of worship were systematically closed, destroyed, or repurposed for secular use, often as clubs, warehouses, or museums of atheism. This campaign reached its peak in the early 1930s.

• Persecution of Clergy and Believers: Religious leaders (priests, imams, rabbis, etc.) were subjected to arrests, imprisonment, exile, and execution. Lay believers also faced discrimination, harassment, and persecution, including being denied education and employment opportunities. Many were labeled as "enemies of the people."

• Propaganda and Education: The League of Militant Atheists, a state-sponsored organization, played a crucial role in disseminating anti-religious propaganda through publications, lectures, and films. The educational system was heavily utilized to instill atheistic values in children and young people.

• Collectivization and Religion: The collectivization of agriculture was often accompanied by heightened anti-religious activity in rural areas. Peasants who resisted collectivization were frequently accused of religious fanaticism.

• Restrictions on Religious Activities: Religious activities outside of officially sanctioned places of worship were severely restricted. The teaching of religion to children was outlawed.

Impact and Legacy:

The campaign resulted in the widespread destruction of religious infrastructure, the persecution of countless individuals, and a significant decline in religious practice. It fostered an atmosphere of fear and repression, forcing many believers to practice their faith in secret or abandon it altogether.

Change in Policy After 1941:

The German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 led to a temporary relaxation of anti-religious policies as Stalin sought to unite the population against a common enemy. The Russian Orthodox Church, in particular, was allowed to resume some of its activities and became a tool for patriotic mobilization. This marked the end of the most intense phase of the anti-religious campaign. While persecution and discrimination did not entirely disappear, the focus shifted away from outright elimination towards a more controlled form of suppression and state oversight of religious institutions.

See Also:

• League of Militant Atheists
• Religion in the Soviet Union
• Stalinism
• Collectivization in the Soviet Union