RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN YUGOSLAVIA, 1944-1953: STALINIST IDEAS UNDER TITO

The author of this article examines religious persecutions which occurred during the period from the time of the communist takeover of government at the end of the Second World War until 1953. She shows how at this time the Soviet model of purges was applied to Church circles. Using a comparative method, the author points out similarities with Stalin's pattern of rule, but also shows modifications in the relations between the government and religion, which come into view after Stalin's death (1953). The author concludes that Yugoslavian religious policies were less extreme in terms of persecution of religion in comparison to the Soviet Union. The more moderate Titoist regime was able to control the work of Church organizations and to produce propaganda about the ostensible freedom of religion in Yugoslavia.