WI Refuseniks are exiled

Minty_Fresh

Banned
The massive amounts of Russian immigrants to Israel in the 1990s revealed a lot of pent up demand for emigration, while also reflecting the misery in Russia at the time. What if this was allowed to happen earlier? The early 1970s saw a brief grace period and some 250,000 Jews left the USSR, with half going to Israel and most of the rest going to the US (by that point, the most ideological of Zionists had already emigrated, sometimes breaking the rules to do so).

Essentially, the point in time I have in mind is the Stalinist paranoia phase, in which right before his death, Stalin began to fear and distrust the Jews. There would of course be Russian precedent for a massive deportation, from Ivan the Terrible onwards. How do you think Israel would handle an influx of hundreds of thousands of Jews in the 1950s from Russia, when they were having such problems integrating the ones from the Arab world at the same time? What impacts do you think this would have?

And what about the Volga Germans and Greek Crimeans? A Soviet Union that exiles them would have to gain something from it. Possibly a massive reparation payment from Germany?

Any thoughts?
 
What would be the reason for sending them out of the country, instead of internal exile to Siberia?
Quid pro quo with Americans, who always pressured USSR to allow their Jews to emigrate?
Well, depending what US offers Stalin (maybe to release some imprisoned Soviet spies?), he might be persuaded to kick Jews out of country rather than send them to Siberia.
 
What would be the reason for sending them out of the country, instead of internal exile to Siberia?
Cost? If it's estimated to be more expensive transporting them to and setting things up in Siberia than can be financially gained from their activities then deporting them all could be seen as a better way of removing the perceived Jewish threat. Alternatively IIRC before things inverted the Soviets were the much larger supporter of Israel than the US was, perhaps they encourage people to emigrate to help cement the relationship.
 
Alternatively IIRC before things inverted the Soviets were the much larger supporter of Israel than the US was, perhaps they encourage people to emigrate to help cement the relationship.
Now that could be interesting.... continued Soviet backing of the Zionist movement, 'encouraged' migration of Soviet Jews to Israel, presumably a continued enthusiasm for kibbutzim, something interesting is liable to happen with the Suez Canal....
 
The problem is that the USSR is the 'Worker's Paradise' that no one wants to leave. Having lots and lots of people wanting to leave is bad enough. LETTING them leave and demonstrating that to the world is a different kettle of fish.

Also. Jews weren't the only ones who wanted to flee. Why let Jews out, and no one else?
 
The problem is that the USSR is the 'Worker's Paradise' that no one wants to leave. Having lots and lots of people wanting to leave is bad enough. LETTING them leave and demonstrating that to the world is a different kettle of fish.

Also. Jews weren't the only ones who wanted to flee. Why let Jews out, and no one else?

Gorbachev asks his Security Minister; "how many of our Jews want to leave?", Security Minister, "about 250,000," Gorbachev, "If we let them freely go, how many will actually go?" Security Minister, "about 100 million."

Old Buddy Hacket joke, but explains why the Soviets would never use mass exile. Would the last non-elite CPSU member please turn out the lights as you leave the country.
 

Minty_Fresh

Banned
Gorbachev asks his Security Minister; "how many of our Jews want to leave?", Security Minister, "about 250,000," Gorbachev, "If we let them freely go, how many will actually go?" Security Minister, "about 100 million."

Old Buddy Hacket joke, but explains why the Soviets would never use mass exile. Would the last non-elite CPSU member please turn out the lights as you leave the country.
That was actually kind of a problem in the 70s. There were "Jews" who found their way into the brief allowed aliyah, and forged their Jewish lineage. I mean, why wouldn't you want to leave?
 
When Russia wants to deport people they send them to Siberia, since the population is so small and the area is so big and underdeveloped (and depending on where you are, cold) that you can send dissidents there and be almost certain that they won't escape.
 
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