Question

What were pogroms???????

Answer 1

Pogrom is a Russian word which, when directly translated, means “to wreak havoc.” Pogroms typically describe violence by Russian authorities against Jewish people, particularly officially-mandated slaughter, though the word has been extended to the massacres of other groups as well.

Answer 2

Pogroms were murderous rampages, they were massive massacres especially of Jews, they were often used by the Russian government to distract Russians from either their poor living conditions where they either din't have enough food or they just don't have enough job opportunities.

So they allowed people to release their anger and hostility toward Jews.