[Ixa]

Anti-semitic anti-communists often allege that Bolshevism was a Jewish conspiracy. The following article criticises that claim. I do not agree with everything said in this article, though, and I might post better criticisms of my own later.
-ix

Was Bolshevism a Jewish movement?

In a post to the Usenet group alt.revisionism, Jacob Minsky demonstrates in no uncertain terms the absurdity of such a position. First, he quotes Pipes:

The census of the Communist Party conducted in 1922 showed that only 959 Jewish members joined before 1917.

Minsky then poses the following question to his Nazi-apologist interlocutor:

Why was the Jewish Labor Bund one of only two political parties (the other one was the small and heavily Jewish PSR, a democratic socialist party) to unequivocally condemn in the Congress of Deputies the Bolshevik seizure of power?

The typical response of the antisemite is to pick out a few prominent Bolsheviks and claim without evidence that they were Jewish. That Trotsky was a Jew is true, but antisemites forget to note that he was one of the early and strongest critics of Stalin and that this criticism cost him his life. Perhaps, a few of the fewer than 1000 Jews who were early members of the Party were indeed in leadership positions, but as Aristotle assures us, "One swallow does not a summer make."

Of course, it is ridiculous to blame a single ethnicity for the crimes of the Bolsheviks. The fact that Stalin was a Georgian does not make all Georgians responsible for the crimes of Stalinism. Some may argue that it is just as unreasonable to blame all Germans for the crimes of the Nazis. This point is valid: guilt should be assigned individually not collectively. Only those Germans who knew about, or should have known about, the Final Solution, participated in its execution, or did nothing to stop it when they could have done so, bear blame for these crimes. Needless to say, young Germans born after the war can only be blameless.

Antisemites blame Jews for Bolshevism by use of a few half-truths. By this method, it could be shown that it was, in fact, Germans who are responsible for Bolshevism. It is perhaps just as (un)reasonable to blame Germans for the rise of Bolshevism as it is to blame Jews. Marx, after all, was a German atheist. Additionally, the political leader of Germany at the time of the Bolshevik Revolution was one of the Bolsheviks' greatest sponsors.

German Kaiser sponsors Bolshevism

Martin Gilbert has the following to say about the German government's support of Bolshevism:

The Bolsheviks had not expected the Austrian and German Governments to be sympathetic to their revolutionary cause, but policy-makers in both Berlin and Vienna were eager to support the spread of Bolshevism in the hope, not all that far fetched, that the Bolsheviks would undermine stable government in Russia and destroy the warmaking powers of the Tsar. On January 7 [1915-RJG] a Bolshevik group in Petrograd distributed leaflets to soldiers, workers, and peasants, calling on them not to pay their monthly rents. That same day in Constantinople, a wealthy Bolshevik Alexander Helphand, approached the German Ambassador to Turkey with the words: 'The interests of the German Government are identical with those of the Russian revolutionaries.' ... Helphand's conversation marked the start of a growing German interest in stimulating revolution in Russia: an interest that was to be intensified by the stalemate on the battlefield, and to find its culmination in facilitating the return of Lenin to Russia, across German soil. Within three months the German government gave money to an Estonian intermediary to give to Lenin, to encourage him to pursue his anti-war activities. In fact, he needed no encouragement.

Gilbert adds a footnote:

The sum paid over to Lenin was between 200, 000 and 250, 000 Marks, worth at that time between $50, 000 and $62, 000 dollars. When the Bolsheviks came to pay it back in 1923, the inflation of the Mark was such that it was worth less than $1.

Will our antisemitic "friends" blame the Germans for the origins of Bolshevism as readily as they blame the Jews? To blame either group would, in my view, be ludicrous. I mean only to point out the hypocrisy of our "friends" who will no doubt continue to blame the Jews for the Bolshevik Revolution as well as capitalist exploitation, the ozone hole and the heat death of the universe.

Stalin Targets the Jews.

In examining the question of whether Stalin was a Jew exterminating Christians, it might be relevent to examine how he treated Jews.

In our context, developments in the Soviet Union, especially after 1948 -the year of Zhdanov's mysterious death and the "Leningrad affair"- are of greater importance. For the first time after the Great Purge, Stalin had a great number of high and highest officials executed, and we know for certain that this was planned as the beginning of another nationwide purge. This would have been touched off by the "Doctor's plot" had Stalin's death not intervened. A group of mostly Jewish physicians were accused of having plotted "to wipe out the leading cadres of the USSR." 30 ...Moreover, the very content of the absurd accusation against the physicians, that they would kill off people in leading positions all over the country, must have filled with fearful forebodings all those who were acquainted with Stalin's method of accusing a fictitious enemy of the crime he himself was about to commit. (The best known example is of course his accusation that Tukhachevski conspired with Germany at the very moment when Stalin was contemplating an alliance with the Nazis.) ...

The most dramatic new element in this last purge, which Stalin planned in the last years of his life, was a decisive shift in ideology, the introduction of a Jewish world conspiracy. For years, the ground for this change had been carefully laid in a number of trials in the satellite countries -the Rajk trial in Hungary, the Ana Pauker affair in Rumania, and, in 1952, the Slansky trial in Czechoslovakia. In these preparatory measures, high party officials were singled out because of their "Jewish bourgeois" origins and accused of Zionism; this accusation was gradually changed to implicate notoriously non-Zionist agencies (especially the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee), in order to indicate that all Jews were Zionists, and all Zionist groups "hirelings of American Imperialism." 32 There was of course nothing new in the "crime" of Zionism, but as the campaign progressed and began to center on Jews in the Soviet Union, another significant change took place: Jews now stood accused of "cosmopolitanism" rather than Zionism, and the pattern of accusations that developed out of this slogan followed ever more closely the Nazi pattern of a Jewish world conspiracy in the sense of the Elders of Zion. It now became startlingly clear how deep an impression this mainstay of Nazi ideology must have made on Stalin -the first indications of this had been in evidence ever since the Hitler-Stalin pact- partly, to be sure, because of its obvious propaganda value in Russia as in all of the satellite countries, where anti-Jewish feeling was widespread and anti-Jewish propaganda had always enjoyed great popularity, but partly also because this type of a fictitious world conspiracy provided an ideologically more suitable background for totalitarian claims to world rule than Wall Street, capitalism, and imperialism. The open, unashamed adoption of what had become to the whole world the most prominent sign of Nazism was the last compliment Stalin paid to his late colleague and rival in total domination with whom, much to his chagrin, he had not been able to come to a lasting agreement. 8

Thus, it is clear that not only is the claim that Bolshevism was a Jewish plot to commit genocide against Christians a canard, but the number one culprit of Soviet mass murder was himself an antisemite and might have tried to finish what our Nazi-apologists' hero started, viz.the total annihilation of the Jewish people in Europe.

Last modified: July 28, 2000
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[Einherjar]

Marx, after all, was a German atheist.

Our anti-semitic friends declare that Marx was a Jew. As they say..A jew is a jew is a jew is.. a jew.
No matter what religion he holds or not holds, he is genetically and mentally jewish.
The anti-semities blame the jews (marx, freud, etc..) for the material, and mechanical view of life both from the bolshevik and capitalist side.

On the other hand this article is rather simple.
For example he doesn't say that Stalin's wife was a Jewess.

[Maxim Litvinov]

Does this mean that you no longer support Stalin, Ixabert?

[Ixa]

Our anti-semitic friends declare that Marx was a Jew. As they say..A jew is a jew is a jew is.. a jew.

Jews are not simply a religious group. They are more of an ethnicity tending to share a tradition based on Judaism. They are descended from the original Hebrews, and have certain physical traits on common.

Does this mean that you no longer support Stalin, Ixabert?

Why would I change my opinion on Stalin ?

That bolshevism wasn't a Jewish movement would only heighten my support for it, as I disfavour the Jewish religion.

[Maxim Litvinov]

1] I was thinking along the lines of - if you are posting this article to be credible (ie - to knock back the links between Judaism and Bolshevism), then you are in general terms vouching for the credibility of an article which talks of Stalin as (irrationally) anti-semitic, the leader of a totalitarian state, the proponent of a absurd accusation against the Jews etc. etc.
2] I think it's fairly easy to see that whether or not people from a Jewish background were in the Bolshevik Party (and, let's face it, MANY people from a Jewish background were), none of them were religiously Jewish.

[Ixa]

So you believe in the anti-Semitic, Hitlerite conspiracy theory that bolshevism is a Jewish conspiracy ?

1] I was thinking along the lines of - if you are posting this article to be credible (ie - to knock back the links between Judaism and Bolshevism), then you are in general terms vouching for the credibility of an article which talks of Stalin as (irrationally) anti-semitic, the leader of a totalitarian state, the proponent of a absurd accusation against the Jews etc. etc.

Whether Stalin was anti-Semitic or not is a matter of complete indifference to me.

The article is probably correct about Stalin's anti-Judaism, but simply misidentifies this as 'anti-Semitism', as is the habit of many Jewish religionists and Zionists.

2] I think it's fairly easy to see that whether or not people from a Jewish background were in the Bolshevik Party (and, let's face it, MANY people from a Jewish background were), none of them were religiously Jewish.

"... it was not Jews who initiated the revolutionary process and directed it. They were used very extensively and were recruited by many revolutionary organizations, but they served not as 'masters but as shopkeepers and salesmen of the Russian revolution,' as Pasmanik said. A most interesting observation was made by the German Slavist Walter Biehahn, who said that 'the Russian Revolution found an excellent medium in Jewish internationalism to spread its ideas over the world so it would seem that all the Communist-Bolshevik movement proceeds from Jews.' According to Biehahn, this rule was only an optical illusion since the Russian revolution was an entirely Russian phenomenon. Biehahn wrote these lines in 1935 in Nazi Germany, and thus opposed the official Nazi interpretation of the Bolshevik revolution."
-- Mikhail Agursky, THE THIRD ROME

In Russia before the revolution, the Jews controlled 40% of the wealth, yet comprised less than two percent of the population. The Bolsheviks put an end to this. If as many Jews as you say supported Bolshevism it would have ultimately been against their own interests--invalidating the claim that Bolshevism was a Jewish movement.

The distinction between "religious Jews" and "non-religious Jews" is useless, in terms of political and economic power; Jewish lobbying groups pursue commonly agreed upon ethnic interests.

[Maxim Litvinov]

So you believe in the anti-Semitic, Hitlerite conspiracy theory that bolshevism is a Jewish conspiracy ?

No. I believe quite the opposite. I believe you're not putting the best (or most helpful) arguments against this, however.

The article is probably correct about Stalin's anti-Judaism, but simply misidentifies this as 'anti-Semitism', as is the habit of many Jewish religionists and Zionists.

Care to provide evidence, rather than just assume? The 'Jewish Doctors' were not practising Jews, but rather only by ethnicity. This suggests, if anything, a 'Stalinist' approach as being against the Jews as an ethnic group and not a religion.

You have a quote from a book quoting a German slavist as your 'evidence' that the Russian revolution was a 'Russian' phenomenon?

As I said, MANY people in the higher eschelons of the Bolshevik Party were of Jewish heritage. And they were. We needn't go into lists. The point is working through the fact that although this was the case, the Bolsheviks never especially favoured Jews. The Revolution might have damaged the economic prospects of Jews, but it favoured them in political terms - granting them freedom of movement and political activism.

The distinction between "religious Jews" and "non-religious Jews" is useless...

Incorrect. We should be careful to look at how Jewishness manifested itself in pre and post-revolutionary Russia. It stops the argument from becoming too blunt and uninspired. There were many Bolsheviks who were born into non-practising Jewish families, even more that 'Christianised' themselves (often to get married in an official Orthodox ceremony), more still that had distant Jewish relatives. They had a great divergence of class backgrounds, occupations and locations. Sometimes their break from the Jewish faith served to make them even more anti-Semitic than the average Russian, sometimes it gave them a certain sympathy to Jewish causes. We cannot and should not "lump" Jews, ex-Jews and those of Jewish extraction together.

[Ixa]

Care to provide evidence, rather than just assume?

Evidence for what?

The 'Jewish Doctors' were not practising Jews, but rather only by ethnicity. This suggests, if anything, a 'Stalinist' approach as being against the Jews as an ethnic group and not a religion.

Why are you persisting with this ? Why would it change my opinion on anything ?

As I said, MANY people in the higher eschelons of the Bolshevik Party were of Jewish heritage.

Prove it. And how would this make Bolshevism is a Jewish conspiracy ?

The point is working through the fact that although this was the case, the Bolsheviks never especially favoured Jews. The Revolution might have damaged the economic prospects of Jews, but it favoured them in political terms - granting them freedom of movement and political activism.

And? That only reinforces the conclusion of the above article.

[Maxim Litvinov]

Evidence for what?

This - "The article is probably correct about Stalin's anti-Judaism, but simply misidentifies this as 'anti-Semitism', as is the habit of many Jewish religionists and Zionists."

Why are you persisting with this ? Why would it change my opinion on anything?

It seems to contradict your stance quoted above - namely the presumption that Stalin possessed anti-Judaism, but not anti-Semitism.

Prove it.

Litvinov, Trotsky, Kaganovich (and wife), Zinoviev, Kamenev...

And how would this make Bolshevism is a Jewish conspiracy?

It wouldn't. I never said it would.

And? That only reinforces the conclusion of the above article.

But it differs from your previous comment that the coming of the revolution had a clearly negative impact on Jews.

[Ixa]

There were many Bolsheviks who were born into non-practising Jewish families, even more that 'Christianised' themselves (often to get married in an official Orthodox ceremony), more still that had distant Jewish relatives.

That doesn't negate their Jewishness.

They had a great divergence of class backgrounds, occupations and locations.

Not all Jews were of the same political & religious viewpoints, economic situation, etc., but that's irrelevant to whether or no Jewish lobbying groups, which represented Jews, pursued and are pursuing generally agreed on ethnic interests. By no means should it be understand that all Jews agree on the best ways in which to serve Jewish interests, but nearly all Jews do agree that Jews have a right to press their own agenda, whether agreed on or no, upon gentiles, to benefit Jews in general. For like any other ethnic group, especially minority, Jews have a certain community of interests that transcends their economic situations, occupations, and political ideologies, and most Jews would agree. The distinction between "religious jew" and "non-religious jew", when dealing with Jewish influence and economic power, is trivial.

We cannot and should not "lump" Jews, ex-Jews and those of Jewish extraction together.

There is no such thing as 'ex-Jews'. You are either ethnically Jewish or you are not.

[Ixa]

It seems to contradict your stance quoted above - namely the presumption that Stalin possessed anti-Judaism, but not anti-Semitism.

Even if the article is correct about Stalin's alleged anti-Semitism, this would not invalidate its conclusion, with which I agree. How could it ?

Litvinov, Trotsky, Kaganovich (and wife), Zinoviev, Kamenev...

The sample you chose is too small and not representative of the group in question.

It wouldn't. I never said it would.

Then what claims I made are you denying ?

But it differs from your previous comment that the coming of the revolution had a clearly negative impact on Jews.

I said it had a negative impact in terms of economic power, which is true.

[Maxim Litvinov]

Even if the article is correct about Stalin's alleged anti-Semitism, this would not invalidate its conclusion, with which I agree. How could it?

But it WOULD cast doubt on the validity of Stalin's approach to Jews, something that you don't seem to want to draw into question. Perhaps a re-evaluation is in order?

The sample you chose is too small and not representative of the group in question.

It's fairly representative of the elite. Of the 7 initial members of the Politburo - Bubnov, Sokolnikov, Kamenev, Lenin, Trotsky, Zinoviev and Stalin, over half had Jewish heritage (Sokolnikov was the other one). Considering that Jews were only about 5% of the population of the Russian Empire of 1917, that's quite a substantial number at face value. There are many explanations - including, in part, coincidence - to explain it without a crude 'Jewish conspiracy' theory, but the number of Jews in prominent Bolshevik positions is still significant.

Then what claims I made are you denying?

I'm denying (a) there weren't a substantial number of Jews in the Bolshevik Party (b) that the Bolsheviks coming to power was overwhelmingly against the interests of Jews (c) that Stalin was clearly anti-Semitic or anti-Judaic (d) that the Doctor's Plot is more anti-Judaism than anti-Semitism (e) that you can neatly talk of 'Jews' and 'non-Jews' in 1917 Russia (f) that there is a sensible and clearly discernible 'ethnic interest' of Jews at this time. I don't really have too many problems with what you're saying, but just am frightened that (a) it might be self-contradictory or (b) it might be oversimplifying things.

I said it had a negative impact in terms of economic power, which is true.

You portrayed the Revolution as something that couldn't possibly be seen in a Jew's ethnic interests. I was merely showing that in a number of ways - especially non-economic - the Revolution was beneficial to Jews as a group, and therefore I thought it was an oversimplification.

[Lord_Tito]

For example he doesn't say that Stalin's wife was a Jewess.

Was she?

And was not Molotovs wife jewess?

[Maxim Litvinov]

Zhemchuzhina was Jewish by extraction, although obviously not practising and another that took a non Jewish name. You are right on Stalin though - neither of his two wives were Jewish.

[Schrödinger's Kitty]

I don't know, there seems to have been a disproportionate number of jewish people in Central Committee. I doubt it was a "jewish conspiracy" that was sought out by jewish people, but anyone can see that they either had a adeptness at getting put in positions or they got preferential treatment.

[The Duke]

I've heard Trotsky was Jewish too.His real name was Lev Bronstein.

My thoughts on this subject:

Was Bolshevism in its core, a Jewish movement? No.

Were there a lot of prominent Bolsheviks, who were Jewish?? Yes.

[Maxim Litvinov]

You can really understand it much more easily if you look at the status of Jews in pre-revolutionary Russia.

As I said, there were about 5 million Jews in Russia at the turn of the century. They were confined to a band in Southern European Russia called the 'Pale' for the most part. They had little to no representation in the ruling classes or the peasantry, stacking this 5% of the population roundly in the proletariat and the urban bourgeoisie. They were also politically oppressed by various government policies - including having to convert to the Orthodox church to marry Russians and move about the country. The government also routinely turned a blind eye to popular 'pogroms'.

In short, while Jews were only 5% of the population, they were also one of the most persecuted ethnic groups who were most against Tsarist rule, and actually made up something more like 25% of the groups in society that almost all the revolutionaries were drawn from (ie - not ruling class and not peasantry).

Add into that fact that 'Jews' means (i) anyone with a Jewish name (ii) anyone with a Jewish parent (iii) anyone with a Jewish wife (iv) anyone with a Jewish background to many conspiracy theorists (who like to say Lenin was 'secretly Jewish', just because a great-grandfather of his converted from Judaism) and the figures become even less remarkable.

... incidentally, you could look at Georgians from the same point of view. Why were there a disproportionately large number of Georgians in key positions? It wasn't just due to Stalin picking his own - Stalin had a love/hate affair with Georgia. It was rather more due to the fact that the Georgian independence movement was strong, that there were strong anti-Tsarist feeling in what was basically 'occupied Georgia' at the turn of the century, and that the structure of Georgian society meant that there was quite a large 'revolutionary' class.

[Luke]

I've heard Trotsky was Jewish too.His real name was Lev Bronstein.

Yes, Trotsky was Jewish. Part of the reason Britain supported Jews in the Middle East was to perhaps get the new Soviet Russia back into WW1, by tugging at his heartstrings (as well as Brandeis, a zionist member of the Supreme Court who had a vast influence on Wilson, in a similar attempt to get America into the war).

[The Duke]

Thanks for the info, I didn't knew that.