Vladimir Lenin became one of the first world leaders to openly denounce antisemitism in March 1918 in a speech called “On Anti Jewish Pogroms”. His regime did not endorse any religion but made a vocal stance against outward forms of hate. Many of the veterans acknowledge that no racial persecution existed in the army, but anti-Jewish sentiments lingered throughout Soviet society.

The 1920s and 30s Secular Jews enjoyed equal rights under Communist rule. Religious traditions were discouraged during the 1920s and 1930s, making life more difficult for religious Jews.

The History of Jews in Russia is important as it helps to understand the mind set of Jews living in the former Soviet Union at the start of the war. Most “Russian” Jews had experienced a much better quality of life under the communist regime until 1948, when Stalin instituted his radical anti Semitic policies.

Successive repressive regime’s under the Tsars, coupled with murderous pogroms, succeeded in Russian Jews welcoming the Bolshevik and later communist rule and becoming active members. The Soviet Union’s promise of equality among all ethnic groups ,and for a brief time in the 20’s and 30’s granting of such, allowed Jews to obtain higher education and to rise to higher levels of intelligentsia and influence in the Soviet society.

During Stalin’s great purge, many Jews and non Jews alike in prominent position were tried and murdered for being potential threats to his regime, but the real hardships for the Jews started after the end of the war.