Anti-Semitism

• After the war, being seen to have links with the outside world became very dangerous.

  Stalin regarded 'Cosmopolitans' - as he called anyone with knowledge of the wider world - as potential spies and traitors.

  This developed into an attack on the Soviet Union's Jewish population.
• Anti-Semitism


  Stalin irrationally believed that the Jews of the Soviet Union were not patriotic, and that they had more loyalty to their fellow Jews around the world than to the country.

  The Jewish community were targeted in the following ways:

  1. Sacked from positions of responsibility in the government and industry
  2. Jewish schools, newspapers and libraries were shut down
  3. Jews were thrown out of universities
  4. It was made difficult for Jews to worship freely
  5. Leading Jews were imprisoned and sometimes executed
• Stalin's Anti-Semitism grew out of control toward the end of his life

  Terrified of dying and increasingly paranoid he became convinced the closest to him were trying to kill him.

  • His personal doctor; Vladimir Vinogradov suggested he reduce his workload for health reasons
  • Stalin suspected him of plotting against him

  In 1953, over 30 top doctors, mainly Jews, were therefore arrested on charges of trying to assassinate top Soviet leaders.

  The number grew into hundreds as the investigation spread