War, the Holocaust and Stalinism

First Published in 1995. The Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee was an organization created by the Soviet authorities as a tool of Soviet war propaganda. However, the committee gradually assumed a Jewish identity and served as a focus for Jewish problems and concerns. Soviet Government, Party and Security began to view the committee with suspicion. Increasing conservatism and anti-Jewish policy rendered the existence of this Jewish organization precarious. War, Holocaust and Stalinism presents a documented history of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee in the Soviet Union during the Second World War, the Holocaust and the immediate post-war years to the end of 1948. It centers upon the tragic fate of Soviet Jewry under both Hitler and Stalin during this most significant period in Jewish history. This is the first publication of documents from the newly opening Russian archives, primarily from the Russian State Archive and the former Archive of the Communist Party. Using previously unpublished material, this volume offers a new insight into Soviet and Stalinist policies towards Jews and the JAFC and the decision-making processes involved.