Soviet repressions against the clergy and believers of the Dnepropetrovsk region in 1939–1942

Abstract

The study is carried out in line with general problems of the history of state- church relations in the conditions of the Soviet totalitarian system. For a long time modern historiography did not pay proper attention to anti-religious politics in the USSR in 1939–1941, both at general and regional levels. Most scholars avoided themes related to repressive policy regarding worshipers in the years following the Great Terror, and some even noted the liberalization of the course of the Soviet leadership in the field of religion and church on the eve of the German-Soviet war, which began in June 1941. The purpose of the study is to highlight political repressions against the clergy and believers of various Christian denominations in Dnipropetrovsk region in 1939–1942. Research methods: problem-chronological, historical-genetic, historical-comparative, analysis, synthesis. The main results of the work. The process of preparation and further implementation of repressions of the clergy and active believers of various religious groups of Dnipropetrovsk region in 1939–1942 is highlighted. Dozens of convicted worshipers and “sectarians” are identified by name. Nature of accusations and peculiarities of imposed sentences are determined. The course of collective cases fabricated by the NKVD bodies against the Orthodox clergy is shown. Repressive measures of the authorities in the initial period of the German-Soviet war are analyzed. The continuity of the state anti-religious course and the use of terror until 1942 is proved. The originality of the work is in the use and analysis of numerous previously unknown archival documents which helped to disclose the formulated scientific problem. Practical value: despite the regional limitations of the study, the materials of the article are useful not only to local historians, but also to church historians for further development of the problems in the outlined chronological framework. Type of article: analytical.