The case of the cooperation of the active evangelical Christians of the Mykolaiv Region with the occupation authorities of Germany (1941-1944)

Abstract

Based on the study of case No. 1269-s, which is kept in the archives of the Security Service of Ukraine in the Mykolaiv region, an analysis of the documents of the Ministry of State Security regarding the investigation into the assets of evangelical Christians in the Mykolaiv region was provided. It has been established that the accusation of the evangelical asset of close cooperation with the bodies of the occupation authorities is mainly artificial in nature. The accusation of extradition to the Gestapo of citizens disloyal to the Nazi regime found no real evidence. The agitation of believers in favor of the occupation regime was episodic in nature and took place under coercion. The main physical evidence regarding the campaign in support of Germany turned out to be only one appeal to believing evangelists. The appeal was written by the presbyter of the Evangelical Church and the main defendant in the case, Fyodor Mitryaev, by order of the general commissar of the Mykolaiv region for the “Harvest Day”. At the same time, the leadership of the evangelical Christians of the Mykolaiv region really did not feel sympathy for the Soviet government either. It remembered her anti-religious policy and repression of Protestant denominations. The case materials revealed problems that arose between the leaders of evangelical Christians, Baptists and Pentecostals. They mainly concerned the struggle for control over all Protestant denominations in the region. It was concluded that the trial of the evangelical asset itself is a continuation of the anti-religious policy of the Communist Party and the Soviet government during the late Stalinism period of 1944-1953.