Atheism – a worldview that rejects religion – was not formally proclaimed as an element of state ideology in Soviet Russia or the USSR; nevertheless, it was actively supported by party and state authorities until 1988.

Lenin once remarked on the struggle against religion: “We must fight against religion. This is the ABC of all materialism, and consequently of Marxism. But Marxism is not a materialism that has stopped at the ABCs. Marxism goes further. It says: one must know how to fight against religion, and to do so, one must provide a materialist explanation for the source of faith and religion among the masses.”

Propaganda was actively employed for this purpose. Below are examples of anti-religious posters that could be seen during the Soviet era.

1. There is no God! (1975)

religion is poison?

Tags: posters · propaganda · Soviet past

A squadron of ships from the Imperial Russian Navy visited the United States in the spring and summer of 1893 to express gratitude for the large-scale food aid provided by Americans during the Russian famine of 1891-1892, and to participate in the celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America (the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago).

The Russian squadron in the Atlantic Ocean was commanded by Vice Admiral N. I. Kaznakov. The squadron included the armored cruiser “Dmitrii Donskoi”, the armored cruiser “General-Admiral”, the armored frigate “Admiral Nakhimov”, and the armored corvette “Rynda”.

The armored frigate “Admiral Nakhimov”.

more photos of this unique event

Tags: Russian Empire