Changes

Atheists, particularly the [[secular left]], have used violence and oppression to promote [[atheism]].  

Atheists, particularly the [[secular left]], have used violence and oppression to promote [[atheism]].  

Historically, atheism has generally been an integral part of [[communism|communist]] ideology (see: [[Atheism and communism]]).  According to the [[University of Cambridge]], historically, the "most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 [[Russian Revolution]], which brought the [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninists]] to power."<ref name="Marxism-Leninism">{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130728215151/http://www.investigatingatheism.info/marxism.html|title=Investigating atheism: Marxism|publisher = [[University of Cambridge]]|quote=The most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the Marxist-Leninists to power. For the first time in history, atheism thus became the official ideology of a state.|year=2008|accessdate=July 17, 2014}}</ref> Under atheistic [[communism]] tens of millions of people were killed and many people were tortured (see: [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]] and [[Atheistic communism and torture]]).  

Historically, atheism has generally been an integral part of [[communism|communist]] ideology (see: [[Atheism and communism]]).  According to the [[University of Cambridge]], historically, the "most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 [[Russian Revolution]], which brought the [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninists]] to power."<ref name="Marxism-Leninism">{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728215151/http://www.investigatingatheism.info/marxism.html|title=Investigating atheism: Marxism|publisher = [[University of Cambridge]]|quote=The most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the Marxist-Leninists to power. For the first time in history, atheism thus became the official ideology of a state.|year=2008|accessdate=July 17, 2014}}</ref> Under atheistic [[communism]] tens of millions of people were killed and many people were tortured (see: [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]] and [[Atheistic communism and torture]]).  

The irreligious also have higher rates of domestic violence (see: [[Irreligion and domestic violence]]).  

The irreligious also have higher rates of domestic violence (see: [[Irreligion and domestic violence]]).  

*Rummel, R. J. (November 1993).  [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"]  University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War.  Retrieved July 19, 2014.

*Rummel, R. J. (November 1993).  [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"]  University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War.  Retrieved July 19, 2014.

*White, Matthew (February 2011).  [http://necrometrics.com/20c5m.htm "Source list and detailed death tolls for the primary megadeaths of the twentieth century"].  Necrometrics.  Retrieved July 19, 2014.

*White, Matthew (February 2011).  [http://necrometrics.com/20c5m.htm "Source list and detailed death tolls for the primary megadeaths of the twentieth century"].  Necrometrics.  Retrieved July 19, 2014.

*Higgins, David (June 22, 2007).  [http://web.archive.org/web/20071008035420/http://www.sarasotamagazine.com/blog/template_permalink.asp?id=365 "Memory and ideology: Washington's newest statue is the Victims Of Communism Memorial"].  Sarasota Magazine website.  Retrieved from October 8, 2007 archive at Internet Archive on May 22, 2015.

*Higgins, David (June 22, 2007).  [https://web.archive.org/web/20071008035420/http://www.sarasotamagazine.com/blog/template_permalink.asp?id=365 "Memory and ideology: Washington's newest statue is the Victims Of Communism Memorial"].  Sarasota Magazine website.  Retrieved from October 8, 2007 archive at Internet Archive on May 22, 2015.

*Radosh, Ronald (February 2000).  [http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=2526 "''The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression''"]. First Things [journal] website.  Retrieved July 19, 2014.</ref> Dr. R. J. Rummel, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Hawaii, is the scholar who first coined the term democide (death by government). Dr. R. J. Rummel's mid estimate regarding the loss of life due to communism is that communism caused the death of approximately 110,286,000 people between 1917 and 1987.<ref>Rummel, R. J. (November 1993).  [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"]  University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War.  Retrieved July 19, 2014.</ref>  

*Radosh, Ronald (February 2000).  [http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=2526 "''The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression''"]. First Things [journal] website.  Retrieved July 19, 2014.</ref> Dr. R. J. Rummel, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Hawaii, is the scholar who first coined the term democide (death by government). Dr. R. J. Rummel's mid estimate regarding the loss of life due to communism is that communism caused the death of approximately 110,286,000 people between 1917 and 1987.<ref>Rummel, R. J. (November 1993).  [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"]  University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War.  Retrieved July 19, 2014.</ref>  

[[File:Vox Day.jpg|thumbnail|left|160px|[[Vox Day|Theodore Beale]] ]]

[[File:Vox Day.jpg|thumbnail|left|160px|[[Vox Day|Theodore Beale]] ]]

The historical record of collective atheism is thus 182,716 times worse on an annual basis than Christianity’s worst and most infamous misdeed, the Spanish Inquisition. It is not only Stalin and Mao who were so murderously inclined, they were merely the worst of the whole [[Atheism and Hell|Hell-bound lot]]. For every Pol Pot whose infamous name is still spoken with horror today, there was a Mengistu, a Bierut, and a Choibalsan, godless men whose names are now forgotten everywhere but in the lands they once ruled with a red hand.

The historical record of collective atheism is thus 182,716 times worse on an annual basis than Christianity’s worst and most infamous misdeed, the Spanish Inquisition. It is not only Stalin and Mao who were so murderously inclined, they were merely the worst of the whole [[Atheism and Hell|Hell-bound lot]]. For every Pol Pot whose infamous name is still spoken with horror today, there was a Mengistu, a Bierut, and a Choibalsan, godless men whose names are now forgotten everywhere but in the lands they once ruled with a red hand.

Is a 58 percent chance that an atheist leader will murder a noticeable percentage of the population over which he rules sufficient evidence that atheism does, in fact, provide a systematic influence to do bad things? If that is not deemed to be conclusive, how about the fact that the average atheist crime against humanity is 18.3 million percent worse than the very worst depredation committed by Christians, even though atheists have had less than one-twentieth the number of opportunities with which to commit them. If one considers the statistically significant size of the historical atheist set and contrasts it with the fact that not one in a thousand religious leaders have committed similarly large-scale atrocities, it is impossible to conclude otherwise, even if we do not yet understand exactly why this should be the case. Once might be an accident, even twice could be coincidence, but fifty-two incidents in ninety years reeks of causation!<ref>[[Vox Day]], ''The Irrational Atheist: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens'' (Dallas, TX: BenBella Books, Inc.), 2008, p. 17.</ref><ref>Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009).  [http://creation.com/atheism#atheism-communism "Atheism [quoting Vox Day&#93;"].  Creation Ministries International.  Retrieved on July 19, 2014.</ref>}}

Is a 58 percent chance that an atheist leader will murder a noticeable percentage of the population over which he rules sufficient evidence that atheism does, in fact, provide a systematic influence to do bad things? If that is not deemed to be conclusive, how about the fact that the average atheist crime against humanity is 18.3 million percent worse than the very worst depredation committed by Christians, even though atheists have had less than one-twentieth the number of opportunities with which to commit them. If one considers the statistically significant size of the historical atheist set and contrasts it with the fact that not one in a thousand religious leaders have committed similarly large-scale atrocities, it is impossible to conclude otherwise, even if we do not yet understand exactly why this should be the case. Once might be an accident, even twice could be coincidence, but fifty-two incidents in ninety years reeks of causation!<ref>[[Vox Day]], ''The Irrational Atheist: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens'' (Dallas, TX: BenBella Books, Inc.), 2008, p. 17.</ref><ref>Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009).  [https://creation.com/atheism#atheism-communism "Atheism [quoting Vox Day&#93;"].  Creation Ministries International.  Retrieved on July 19, 2014.</ref>}}

=== Atheistic communism and torture ===

=== Atheistic communism and torture ===

{{cquote|The authors explored the relationship between religious involvement and intimate partner violence by analyzing data from the first wave of the National Survey of Families and Households. They found that: (a) religious involvement is correlated with reduced levels of domestic violence; (b) levels of domestic violence vary by race/ethnicity; (c) the effects of religious involvement on domestic violence vary by race/ethnicity; and (d) religious involvement, specifically church attendance, protects against domestic violence, and this protective effect is stronger for African American men and women and for Hispanic men, groups that, for a variety of reasons, experience elevated risk for this type of violence.<ref name=VAW/>}}   

{{cquote|The authors explored the relationship between religious involvement and intimate partner violence by analyzing data from the first wave of the National Survey of Families and Households. They found that: (a) religious involvement is correlated with reduced levels of domestic violence; (b) levels of domestic violence vary by race/ethnicity; (c) the effects of religious involvement on domestic violence vary by race/ethnicity; and (d) religious involvement, specifically church attendance, protects against domestic violence, and this protective effect is stronger for African American men and women and for Hispanic men, groups that, for a variety of reasons, experience elevated risk for this type of violence.<ref name=VAW/>}}   

A higher rate of domestic violence exists among cohabiting couples as compared with married couples<ref>Kenney, C. T. and McLanahan, S. S. (February 2006).  [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16579211 [abstract of&#93; "Why are cohabiting relationships more violent than marriages?"] ''Demography'', vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 127-40.  Abstract retrieved from U. S. National Institute of Health/National Library of Medicine/National Center for Biotechnology Information/PubMed.</ref> Atheists have lower marriage rates than [[theism|theists]] (see: [[Atheism and marriage]] and [[Atheist marriages]]).  

A higher rate of domestic violence exists among cohabiting couples as compared with married couples<ref>Kenney, C. T. and McLanahan, S. S. (February 2006).  [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16579211 [abstract of&#93; "Why are cohabiting relationships more violent than marriages?"] ''Demography'', vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 127-40.  Abstract retrieved from U. S. National Institute of Health/National Library of Medicine/National Center for Biotechnology Information/PubMed.</ref> Atheists have lower marriage rates than [[theism|theists]] (see: [[Atheism and marriage]] and [[Atheist marriages]]).  

A September 9, 2012 article at ''Atlantic Wire'' wrote about the noted atheist [[John Lennon]]:

A September 9, 2012 article at ''Atlantic Wire'' wrote about the noted atheist [[John Lennon]]:

A 2010 ''Scientific American'' column article indicates concerning domestic violence that "Women suffer close to two thirds of the injuries... In addition, women and men differ in the severity of their actions; women are more likely to scratch or slap their partners, men more commonly punch or choke their partners."<ref>Arkowitz, Hal and Lilienfeld, Scott O. (May–June 2010).  [http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-men-the-more-belligerent-sex/ "Are men the more belligerent sex? Men are more dangerous, but women can be just as aggressive"]. ''Mind''.  Retrieved from ''Scientific American'' website.</ref>  

A 2010 ''Scientific American'' column article indicates concerning domestic violence that "Women suffer close to two thirds of the injuries... In addition, women and men differ in the severity of their actions; women are more likely to scratch or slap their partners, men more commonly punch or choke their partners."<ref>Arkowitz, Hal and Lilienfeld, Scott O. (May–June 2010).  [http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-men-the-more-belligerent-sex/ "Are men the more belligerent sex? Men are more dangerous, but women can be just as aggressive"]. ''Mind''.  Retrieved from ''Scientific American'' website.</ref>  

[[File:Vodka.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|[[Alcoholism]] was a serious social problem in the former atheistic [[Soviet Union]].<ref>Pomerlau, Joceline, et. al. (May–June 2008).  [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18245818 "Hazardous alcohol drinking in the former Soviet Union: A cross-sectional study of eight countries"]. ''Alcohol and Alcoholism'', vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 351-9.  Retrieved from PubMed.gov</ref> Between 1940 and 1980, this [[atheist state]] had the largest increase of the amount of alcohol usage in the developed world.<ref>Anderson, Sandra C. and Hibbs, Valerie K. (October 1992). [http://isw.sagepub.com/content/35/4/441.extract "Alcoholism in the Soviet Union" [first page&#93;].  ''International Social Work'', vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 441-53 [fee or registration required for full article].  First page retrieved from Sage journals/International Social Work.</ref>]

[[File:Vodka.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|[[Alcoholism]] was a serious social problem in the former atheistic [[Soviet Union]].<ref>Pomerlau, Joceline, et. al. (May–June 2008).  [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18245818 "Hazardous alcohol drinking in the former Soviet Union: A cross-sectional study of eight countries"]. ''Alcohol and Alcoholism'', vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 351-9.  Retrieved from PubMed.gov</ref> Between 1940 and 1980, this [[atheist state]] had the largest increase of the amount of alcohol usage in the developed world.<ref>Anderson, Sandra C. and Hibbs, Valerie K. (October 1992). [http://isw.sagepub.com/content/35/4/441.extract "Alcoholism in the Soviet Union" [first page&#93;].  ''International Social Work'', vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 441-53 [fee or registration required for full article].  First page retrieved from Sage journals/International Social Work.</ref>]

Atheists and atheistic societies often have significant problems with excess alcohol usage (For more information please see: [[Atheism and alcoholism]]).

Atheists and atheistic societies often have significant problems with excess alcohol usage (For more information please see: [[Atheism and alcoholism]]).

Most people who binge drink are not alcoholics or alcohol dependent.

Most people who binge drink are not alcoholics or alcohol dependent.

It is estimated that about 17% of men and about 8% of women will meet criteria for alcohol dependence at some point in their lives.<ref>[http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/mens-health.htm "Excessive alcohol use and risks to men's health"] (November 19, 2014).  U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website/Alcohol and Public Health/Fact Sheets</ref>}}

It is estimated that about 17% of men and about 8% of women will meet criteria for alcohol dependence at some point in their lives.<ref>[https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/mens-health.htm "Excessive alcohol use and risks to men's health"] (November 19, 2014).  U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website/Alcohol and Public Health/Fact Sheets</ref>}}

== Atheism, alcoholism and violence ==

== Atheism, alcoholism and violence ==

According to the National Institute of Health, "Scientists and nonscientists alike have long recognized a two-way association between alcohol consumption and violent or aggressive behavior."<ref name="pubs.niaaa.nih.gov"/>

According to the National Institute of Health, "Scientists and nonscientists alike have long recognized a two-way association between alcohol consumption and violent or aggressive behavior."<ref name="pubs.niaaa.nih.gov"/>

[[File:04656 market in Sanok.JPG|thumbnail|200px|left|[[Alcoholism]] was a serious social problem in the former atheistic [[Soviet Union]].<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18245818 Hazardous alcohol drinking in the former Soviet Union: a cross-sectional study of eight countries]</ref> Between 1940 and 1980, this [[atheist state]] had the largest increase of the amount of alcohol usage in the developed world.<ref>[http://isw.sagepub.com/content/35/4/441.extract Alcoholism in the Soviet Union]</ref>]]

[[File:04656 market in Sanok.JPG|thumbnail|200px|left|[[Alcoholism]] was a serious social problem in the former atheistic [[Soviet Union]].<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18245818 Hazardous alcohol drinking in the former Soviet Union: a cross-sectional study of eight countries]</ref> Between 1940 and 1980, this [[atheist state]] had the largest increase of the amount of alcohol usage in the developed world.<ref>[http://isw.sagepub.com/content/35/4/441.extract Alcoholism in the Soviet Union]</ref>]]

At least 100 studies suggests religion has a positive effect on preventing alcohol-related problems, researchers Christopher Ellison, Jennifer Barrett and Benjamin Moulton noted in an article in the ''Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion'' on “Gender, Marital Status, and Alcohol Behavior: The Neglected Role of Religion.”<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-briggs/charlie-sheen-circus-and-_b_836934.html The Doubled-Edged Sword of Religion and Alcoholism]</ref>

At least 100 studies suggests religion has a positive effect on preventing alcohol-related problems, researchers Christopher Ellison, Jennifer Barrett and Benjamin Moulton noted in an article in the ''Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion'' on “Gender, Marital Status, and Alcohol Behavior: The Neglected Role of Religion.”<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-briggs/charlie-sheen-circus-and-_b_836934.html The Doubled-Edged Sword of Religion and Alcoholism]</ref>

[[File:Vodka bottle.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|Alcoholism was a serious social problem in the former atheistic [[Soviet Union]].<ref name="Pomerlau">Pomerlau, Joceline, et. al. (May–June 2008).  [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18245818 "Hazardous alcohol drinking in the former Soviet Union: A cross-sectional study of eight countries"]. ''Alcohol and Alcoholism'', vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 351-9.  Retrieved from PubMed.gov on May 23, 2015.</ref> Between 1940 and 1980, this [[atheist state]] had the largest increase of the amount of alcohol usage in the developed world.<ref name="Anderson">Anderson, Sandra C. and Hibbs, Valerie K. (October 1992). [http://isw.sagepub.com/content/35/4/441.extract "Alcoholism in the Soviet Union" [first page&#93;].  ''International Social Work'', vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 441-53 [fee or registration required for full article].  First page retrieved from Sage journals/International Social Work on May 23, 2015.</ref>]

[[File:Vodka bottle.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|Alcoholism was a serious social problem in the former atheistic [[Soviet Union]].<ref name="Pomerlau">Pomerlau, Joceline, et. al. (May–June 2008).  [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18245818 "Hazardous alcohol drinking in the former Soviet Union: A cross-sectional study of eight countries"]. ''Alcohol and Alcoholism'', vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 351-9.  Retrieved from PubMed.gov on May 23, 2015.</ref> Between 1940 and 1980, this [[atheist state]] had the largest increase of the amount of alcohol usage in the developed world.<ref name="Anderson">Anderson, Sandra C. and Hibbs, Valerie K. (October 1992). [http://isw.sagepub.com/content/35/4/441.extract "Alcoholism in the Soviet Union" [first page&#93;].  ''International Social Work'', vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 441-53 [fee or registration required for full article].  First page retrieved from Sage journals/International Social Work on May 23, 2015.</ref>]

'''Asian countries:'''  

'''Asian countries:'''  

The [[Soviet Union]] practiced [[state atheism]] and [[militant atheism]].  According to the [[University of Cambridge]], historically, the "most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninists]] to power."<ref name="Marxism-Leninism"/>  

The [[Soviet Union]] practiced [[state atheism]] and [[militant atheism]].  According to the [[University of Cambridge]], historically, the "most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninists]] to power."<ref name="Marxism-Leninism"/>  

The journalist Peter Hitchens is the [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] brother of atheist [[Christopher Hitchens]] and he covered the Soviet Union during its latter years before it collapsed.  According to Peter Hitchens, an atheistic society degraded the morals of the Russian people during the Soviet period (see: [[Soviet Union and morality]]).<ref>[http://creation.com/britain-needs-god ''Britain needs God'']</ref>  

The journalist Peter Hitchens is the [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] brother of atheist [[Christopher Hitchens]] and he covered the Soviet Union during its latter years before it collapsed.  According to Peter Hitchens, an atheistic society degraded the morals of the Russian people during the Soviet period (see: [[Soviet Union and morality]]).<ref>[https://creation.com/britain-needs-god ''Britain needs God'']</ref>  

=== Mass rape and the Soviet Union's army in Germany ===

=== Mass rape and the Soviet Union's army in Germany ===

As Allied troops entered and occupied Germany during the latter part of [[World War II]], mass rapes occurred in connection with combat operations and during the occupation which followed. Historians in the [[Western World]] generally conclude that the majority of the rapes were committed by [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] servicemen.  

As Allied troops entered and occupied Germany during the latter part of [[World War II]], mass rapes occurred in connection with combat operations and during the occupation which followed. Historians in the [[Western World]] generally conclude that the majority of the rapes were committed by [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] servicemen.  

The majority of the rapes happened in the Soviet occupation zone.  Estimates of the number of German women sexually assaulted by Soviet soldiers have ranged up to 2 million.<ref name="ElizabethHeineman">{{cite journal |first=Elizabeth |last=Heineman |title=The Hour of the Woman: Memories of Germany's "Crisis Years" and West German National Identity |journal=American Historical Review|volume=101 |issue=2 |year=1996 |pages=354–395 |jstor=2170395 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Kuwert |first=P. |last2=Freyberger |first2=H. |year=2007 |title=The unspoken secret: Sexual violence in World War II |journal=International Psychogeriatrics |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=782–784 |doi=10.1017/S1041610207005376 }}</ref><ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/berlin_01.shtml|title=BBC - History - World Wars: The Battle for Berlin in World War Two|publisher=Bbc.co.uk|accessdate=10 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="Schissler">Hanna Schissler ''The Miracle Years: A Cultural History of West Germany, 1949–1968'' [https://books.google.com/books?id=00fCzJKt1QMC&pg=PA28&lpg=PA28&dq=soviet+estimates+rape+tens+of+thousands&source=web&ots=xzyKzJm1sj&sig=cy2AfPmp7ZvT7K9YSWPRkXoyp6E]</ref><ref name="NPR">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106687768|title=Silence Broken On Red Army Rapes In Germany|date=17 July 2009|work=NPR.org|accessdate=10 December 2014}}</ref> The historian William Hitchcock declared that in many cases women were the victims of repeated rapes, some women experienced as many as 60 to 70 rapes.<ref name="Struggle for Europe">{{cite book |first=William I. |last=Hitchcock |title=The Struggle for Europe: The Turbulent History of a Divided Continent, 1945 to the Present |publisher=Anchor Books |year=2004 |url=http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385497992&view=excerpt |isbn=978-0-385-49799-2}}</ref>

The majority of the rapes happened in the Soviet occupation zone.  Estimates of the number of German women sexually assaulted by Soviet soldiers have ranged up to 2 million.<ref name="ElizabethHeineman">{{cite journal |first=Elizabeth |last=Heineman |title=The Hour of the Woman: Memories of Germany's "Crisis Years" and West German National Identity |journal=American Historical Review|volume=101 |issue=2 |year=1996 |pages=354–395 |jstor=2170395 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Kuwert |first=P. |last2=Freyberger |first2=H. |year=2007 |title=The unspoken secret: Sexual violence in World War II |journal=International Psychogeriatrics |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=782–784 |doi=10.1017/S1041610207005376 }}</ref><ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/berlin_01.shtml|title=BBC - History - World Wars: The Battle for Berlin in World War Two|publisher=Bbc.co.uk|accessdate=10 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="Schissler">Hanna Schissler ''The Miracle Years: A Cultural History of West Germany, 1949–1968'' [https://books.google.com/books?id=00fCzJKt1QMC&pg=PA28&lpg=PA28&dq=soviet+estimates+rape+tens+of+thousands&source=web&ots=xzyKzJm1sj&sig=cy2AfPmp7ZvT7K9YSWPRkXoyp6E]</ref><ref name="NPR">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106687768|title=Silence Broken On Red Army Rapes In Germany|date=17 July 2009|work=NPR.org|accessdate=10 December 2014}}</ref> The historian William Hitchcock declared that in many cases women were the victims of repeated rapes, some women experienced as many as 60 to 70 rapes.<ref name="Struggle for Europe">{{cite book |first=William I. |last=Hitchcock |title=The Struggle for Europe: The Turbulent History of a Divided Continent, 1945 to the Present |publisher=Anchor Books |year=2004 |url=http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385497992&view=excerpt |isbn=978-0-385-49799-2}}</ref>

After the atheist leader of the Soviet Union [[Joseph Stalin]] received a complaint from Yugoslav politician Milovan Djilas about rapes in Yugoslavia, Stalin reportedly said that he should "understand it if a soldier who has crossed thousands of kilometres through blood and fire and death has fun with a woman or takes some trifle."<ref>Anne Applebaum, ''Iron Curtain, The Crushing of Eastern Europe'', p.32</ref> Also, when told that Red Army soldiers sexually assaulted German refugees, Stalin reportedly declared: "We lecture our soldiers too much; let them have their initiative."<ref name="Roberts"/>

After the atheist leader of the Soviet Union [[Joseph Stalin]] received a complaint from Yugoslav politician Milovan Djilas about rapes in Yugoslavia, Stalin reportedly said that he should "understand it if a soldier who has crossed thousands of kilometres through blood and fire and death has fun with a woman or takes some trifle."<ref>Anne Applebaum, ''Iron Curtain, The Crushing of Eastern Europe'', p.32</ref> Also, when told that Red Army soldiers sexually assaulted German refugees, Stalin reportedly declared: "We lecture our soldiers too much; let them have their initiative."<ref name="Roberts"/>