Features of investgation of the NKVD against the clergy during the «Great terror» 1937–1938s

Researches the problem of falsification of investigations by the NKVD during the «Great Terror» without the involvement of those arrested. Dominates the view, according to which the investigative and prosecutorial decisions were fabricated by means of tortures and cruel treatment to prisoners. At the same time, there is reason to suppose that along with this practice a huge mass of people was condemned without a call in for questioning, without a confrontation, etc. Investigative materials were falsifi ed as well as signatures of people of under investigation; solutions of «triples» were passing absentia. Facts that would directly confi rm such a hypothesis can be found in the fi rst place among the memories of the victims of mass repression. In general, there are two major factors that pushed the Bolsheviks leadership to the complete destruction of the Church and religion. First is that the Church and the faithful were perceived by the party leadership as a potential «fifth column», which destruction was of their direct task. The second factor was purely ideological — the Bolsheviks sincerely believed in socialism as an ideal social structure of society. So, religion didn’t fit into their model of an ideal socialist society. Tactic of continuous strangulation in 1920–1930 didn’t produce expected results. Thus decisive actions were accepted. The Church became one of main objects of the terror during mass political reprisals 1937– 1938 .Guilt of the clergy was very obvious for the NKVD. For the NKVD priest who didn’t waive of his rank, publicly acknowledged their hostility to Soviet power. Their guilt didn’t require evidence, requires only compliance with formalities