The Question of no Freedom of Religion in the USSR in Relationships between Washington and Moscow at the Initial Stage of the German-Soviet War (June-December 1941)

Abstract

The article explores the particular segment of official American-Soviet relations at the beginning of the German-Soviet war, which concerned the issue of no religious freedom in the USSR and the influence of President Roosevelt’s administration on its impact. The chronological boundaries of the study are the period from the German attack on the USSR on June 22, 1941 to December 1941, when a number of important events took place: the Soviet counteroffensive began near Moscow (December 5, 1941), Japan attacked the base of the US Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941), Germany and Italy declared war on the USA (December 11, 1941).

The article attempts to trace the facts concerning the official relations between the United States of America and the Soviet Union regarding religious freedom during the most critical period of the German-Soviet war. The author analyzes official statements and documents, correspondence of diplomatic representatives, as well as memories of representatives of the highest state leadership, who were direct participants in the studied events, in order to highlight the state of interaction regarding issues of religious freedom. The article clarifies how the issue of religious freedom influenced the formation of the alliance between the two states, taking into account the historical context of restrictions on religious practice in the USSR and the active support of the right to religious freedom as part of American foreign policy. The study indicates that the issue of religious freedom concerned not only the moral dimension of relations between the two states, but was also a tool of diplomatic influence that depended on the US public opinion. The article is designed to show the complex nature of American-Soviet relations in the second half of 1941, emphasizing the role of ideological compromises in international politics and the importance of the issue of religious freedom as an element of diplomatic relations between the USA and the USSR. The results of the study show that religious issues could shape international relations during global conflicts and influence political decisions at the highest level. The author claims that taking into account the religious aspect in interstate relations can open up new opportunities for diplomacy and promote better mutual understanding between countries.