Non-diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and the Swiss Confederation in the first half of the 1920s, review of sources

Scientific article

DOI 10.28995/2073-0101-2026-1-93-108

For citation

Anokhin, N. G. (2026). Non-diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and the Swiss Confederation in the first half of the 1920s, review of sources, Herald of an Archivist, no. 1, pp. 93-108. DOI 10.28995/2073-0101-2026-1-93-108

Anokhin, N. G., Russian State University for the Humanities, Moscow, Russia

Non-diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and the Swiss Confederation in the first half of the 1920s, review of sources

Abstract

This article examines materials on the history of Soviet-Swiss relations, shedding light on the circumstances of the deterioration of relations between the Soviet Union and the Swiss Confederation in the 1920s. The mutual aggravation of interstate relations contradicted the central diplomatic line of both states. In domestic and foreign historiography, researchers have focused on identifying the causes and consequences of these aggravating contradictions. The tense nature of relations between the states was largely due to the period of their formation in 1917–1918. The aim of this article is to reveal the information potential of official sources – interstate correspondence between governments, materials of the Swiss federal authorities, court proceedings, and personal sources. A comparison of the attribution of diplomatic correspondence between the Soviet and Swiss foreign affairs ministries by domestic and foreign archivists suggests an obvious mutual misunderstanding between the recipients. The minutes of the Swiss Federal Council meetings devoted to resolving the aftermath of the escalation, while briefly documenting the deliberations, emphasize the collective nature of the federal executive body and demonstrate a consolidated position on the USSR. A simultaneous reference to the «Conradi Declaration» and court documents allows for a full disclosure of the circumstances of the assassination attempt on V. V. Vorovsky. The author draws attention to the structure and content of the sources. In Soviet-Swiss relations, mutual negative perceptions were characteristic of both the leadership of both countries, as well as the public in Switzerland and the Soviet Union. An examination of the Soviet Union and Switzerland's perceptions of each other can help clarify this picture.

Keywords

RSFSR, Soviet Union, Swiss Confederation, Switzerland, international relations, USSR foreign policy, interwar period, V. V. Vorovsky, M. Konradi, Soviet diplomats, Soviet Union, Swiss Confederation, Switzerland, international relations, USSR foreign policy, interwar period, V. V. Vorovsky, M. Konradi, Soviet diplomats, diplomatic documents, historical sources. Soviet diplomats, diplomatic documents, historical sources.

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About authors

Anokhin Nikolay Grigorievich, Russian State University for the Humanities, Historical and Archival Institute, Faculty of History, International Scientific and Educational Center for the History of the Holocaust and Genocides, Secretary-Administrator, Moscow, Russian Federation

8-995-792-75-04, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ORCID: 0009-0004-7945-0430

The article was received in the editorial office on 11.12.2024, recommended for publication on 20.12.2025.