Soviet-Style Zionism

This website is a fascinating history of Birobidzhan, the "Jewish Autonomous Region" that Stalin established in the eastern USSR. Needless to say, the region wasn't actually all that autonomous. After a while, it wasn't very Jewish either.

The site is written in that annoying museum style, but the information and images are interesting enough to withstand the presentation.

Comments

[Hakluyt]

The Soviets also played nice and gentle (between periods of hard-handed efforts) with the Muslim population of the USSR during Stalin's reign. They didn't have the resources to kick them in line in the 1920s and 1930s, so they pandered to them so as to keep them from revolting and trying to invite the British in (either from India or the middle east).

[TallDave]

It's also interesting to read about the Communist kibbutzim in Israel. Apparently, they've now morphed into quasi-businesses.

[mediageek]

Interesting stuff.

Really well designed presentation. Great font use.