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

It is widely believed that Stalin’s Soviet Union was a country almost completely closed to foreigners. However, advertising for “Intourist” (the organization responsible for foreign tourism in the USSR), founded in the 1930s, offers a somewhat different assessment.

The country desperately needed foreign currency for industrialization, so every means possible was used to attract wealthy foreign tourists to the USSR. And this wasn’t limited to the major cities of Moscow and Leningrad.

Welcome to the USSR

Tags: Moscow city · posters · propaganda · Saint Petersburg city · Soviet past

The following book “Anti-Religious Alphabet” was published in Leningrad in 1933. The author of the pictures was Mikhail Mikhailovich Cheremnykh (1890-1962) – a Soviet graphic artist, cartoonist, book illustrator.

Each word in the poetic phrases accompanying the pictures begins with the corresponding letter of the Russian alphabet. Translation gives just a general meaning of these short phrases, but of course, if you know Russian, then this historical document is especially interesting. However, the illustrations themselves give some insight into the attitude to religion during the first decades of the Soviet regime. Source

1. Anti-Religious Alphabet.

godless ABC

Tags: propaganda · Saint Petersburg city · Soviet past

Propaganda in the USSR was diverse and covered almost all spheres of life. For example, the following posters educated Soviet people how to properly handle books. Pictures by humus.

1926. Protect the book from rain and snow.

read books properly

Tags: propaganda · Soviet past

Soviet propaganda is the propaganda of communist ideas and the Soviet way of life. It was carried out purposefully and centrally under the leadership of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and was officially called ideological work, enlightenment of the masses, and the like. Propaganda was conducted through the media, books, movies, theatrical plays, works of fine art, etc.

By the mid-1930s, the role of the propaganda machine in strengthening the Stalinist regime was clearly manifested. Propaganda created a personality cult of Stalin. The pilots were at the top of the hierarchy of Soviet heroes. They were simultaneously the “sons” of the “father” – Stalin and the “motherland”. Source

1923. Build the air fleet of the USSR. Everyone – a shareholder of Dobrolet*!
Sale of shares in the office of “Dobrolet”. Petrograd, October 25th Avenue, 38. The prices of shares: 1 ruble 05 kopecks and 52 rubles 50 kopecks (golden share).
* The Russian joint-stock company of the voluntary air fleet “Dobrolet” was an air transport organization that existed in the Soviet Union in 1923-1932.

pilots as Soviet superheroes

Tags: propaganda · Soviet past

Soviet propaganda was diverse and influenced the minds of people all the time. Let’s see how the image of a woman was used and gradually changed on Soviet posters. Source: humus

Woman! Learn to read and write!
Oh, mother! If you were literate, you could help me! (1923)

Soviet propaganda posters

Tags: propaganda · Soviet past

Here is the second part of photos on the state of the Read Army just before the Second World War, in 1936. We can see the Red Army soldiers at study, rest and in combat. Pictures by humus

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Tags: propaganda · Soviet past

May 9 in Russia and some countries of the former Soviet Union is celebrated as the Day of Victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

Paying tribute to those who died in the war, we want to share with you a number of unique photos from an album on the state of the Red Army just before the war, in 1936. Pictures by humus

The Red Army in 1936 – Part 2

Soviet young people go with joy to their Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army

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Tags: propaganda · Soviet past

May 1 is a holiday in many countries around the world and is known as Labor and Spring Day in present Russia. In the USSR it was celebrated as International Workers Day.

May 1, 1886, socialist, communist and anarchist organizations in the U.S. and Canada staged a series of rallies and demonstrations. May 4, 1886, six people were killed when the police broke up one of these demonstrations in Chicago.

If you have worked well – you will have good rest

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Tags: posters · propaganda · Soviet past

Soviet propaganda is propaganda of communist ideas and the Soviet way of life. It was carried out deliberately and centrally under the direction of the Communist Party and was officially called the ideological work, educating the masses, etc.

The propaganda combined the universal values (freedom, social justice), and patriotism. Propaganda was conducted through the media, books, movies, theater, and visual art. Today it is the part of Soviet cultural heritage.

Let’s take a look at how it all began during the Civil War and establishing of Soviet power in 1917-1923.

Death to world imperialism!

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Tags: posters · propaganda · Soviet past