In 1922, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks decided to establish the State Political Administration. What is GPU? Why were the Bolsheviks not satisfied with the previous punishing and controlling body - the Cheka? We will try to answer in this article.

Reorganization of the Cheka

Before answering the question of what the GPU is, it is necessary to understand why in 1922 the members of the party were no longer satisfied with the Cheka (All-Russian Extraordinary Commission).

The Cheka was created almost immediately after the Bolsheviks seized power. The communists themselves called this event a revolution, and in Soviet historiography it was called the Great October Socialist Revolution. Recall that in February 1917 the Great Bourgeois Revolution had already passed. The emperor was overthrown, power was to be transferred to a democratic government - the Constituent Assembly. However, on October 25, Lenin and his associates carried out an armed seizure of power.

Naturally, the revolutionary forces did not support such an adventurous trick. Oppositionists began to be called "controversy", i.e. supporters of the counterrevolution. Subsequently, this term was given to everyone who somehow disagreed with the actions of the Bolsheviks. It was to combat the “counter” that the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission was created in December 1917. It was headed by F.E. Dzerzhinsky, nicknamed "Iron Felix" for his strong character and tough temper.

Why did the Cheka cease to suit the Bolsheviks?

The Cheka is a punitive body whose work was directed against supporters of the counterrevolution. Any citizen who at least somehow showed dissatisfaction with the current government could be declared "counter". To understand what the GPU is and how it differed from the Cheka, we list the powers of the punitive organization. Chekists on the ground had unlimited power. Their responsibilities included:

• Search at any time of the day or night without explanation.
• Arrest and interrogation of any suspicious, according to the Chekists, citizen.
• Expropriation of property from "kulaks" and "counters" without trial or investigation. Which in practice led to total robbery.
• Detention and execution without trial or investigation.

No one controlled the Chekists. They considered themselves "special", having the right to any action in the "interests of the revolution" and against the "fight against the counter". Thousands of ordinary citizens fell under execution without trial or investigation during the "Red Terror". The Chekists themselves sometimes did not even see the accused. Executions were carried out after the compilation of certain lists. Often the reason for the massacre was the surname, appearance, occupation, etc. The Bolsheviks won the civil war, so they considered the repressive measures justified. Then events took place that completely changed the consciousness of the Bolsheviks: peasants and soldiers went to war. The most famous of them is the Tambov uprising. Chemical weapons were used against the rebels, the children and wives of the partisans were sent to camps, forcing fathers and husbands to surrender. But the uprising in Kronstadt was truly unexpected. In fact, a force came out against the Bolsheviks, which brought them to power. After that, it became clear that this could not continue.

GPU: decryption

GPU stands for Main The reorganization of the Cheka took place on February 6, 1922. After the creation of the USSR, the OGPU was formed in November 1923 - the United State Political Administration. The combined structure included the GPU of the NKVD of the RSFSR (the main political department of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic), as well as all the former organizations of the Cheka and the GPU of the other republics. In fact, all disparate punitive bodies were included in a single and understandable management system. So, what is the GPU (decoding), we have covered. We list the internal changes that followed after the creation of this organization.

Limiting the arbitrariness of the Chekists

The reform significantly reduced the arbitrariness of the fighters against the “counter”. Total arbitrariness has come to an end. Of course, the GPU officers also went too far on the ground, but this was already a violation of the law, for which punishment was supposed. Even the top leaders of the Chekists - Yagoda and Yezhov - were shot for arbitrariness and numerous excesses.

After the reform, the Main Political Directorate turned not into a punishing, but a law enforcement organization. Her competence also included the fight against enemies and spies, the protection of borders, control over the work of the police, etc. However, now all arrests and executions were ordered by the courts, and not by the distraught Chekists. In addition, there was a significant reduction in staffing in the field, and the work of employees was controlled by the prosecutor's office.

In fact, there was a demotion of the Chekists: before the reform, no one controlled them, they could repair any arbitrariness "in the interests of the revolution", and the body itself was directly subordinate to the Council of People's Commissars (Council of People's Commissars). The Cheka was superior to the NKVD. After the reform, the Chekists became not a "special" unit, but policemen, since the OGPU became one of the units of the NKVD. A prosecutor's office was created to control the work of the new agency.

liquidation

So, what is GP, we found out. Let's say a little about further reorganizations.

In 1934, the OGPU was completely liquidated as an organization. She completely merged with the NKVD. From 1934 to 1936 the organization was headed by G.G. Yagoda, from 1936 to 1938 - N.I. Yezhov. And since 1938 - L.P. Beria. All of them were later shot.

In 1941, the NKVD split into the NKVD and the NKGB (People's Commissariat for State Security). The NKGB became the successor of the VChK-GPU-OGPU.

In 1946, the NKGB was reorganized into the MGB (Ministry of State Security). After coming to power N.S. Khrushchev, the MGB becomes the KGB (Committee of State Security) in 1954. It lasted until the collapse of the Union. Today, the functions of the OGPU are performed by 4 departments at once: the GRU (Main Intelligence Directorate), the Investigative Committee, and the National Guard.

However, only FSB officers are considered the successors of the "chekists".

Congratulations to the FSB officers on their 90th anniversary!
I dedicate the picture below to thousands of Chekists who watch Ekaba every day, tracking the comments of all users of our site;)))!

The history of creation under the cut.

FSB short history of creation..

(7) December 20, 1917 By a decree of the Council of People's Commissars, the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission (VChK) was formed to combat counter-revolution and sabotage in Soviet Russia. F.E. Dzerzhinsky was appointed its first chairman. He held this post until February 6, 1922. July to August 1918 the duties of the chairman of the Cheka were temporarily performed by Ya.Kh. Peters

GPU
February 6, 1922 The All-Russian Central Executive Committee adopted a resolution on the abolition of the Cheka and the formation of the State Political Directorate (GPU) under the NKVD of the RSFSR.

The badge of 5 years of the VChK-GPU with the inscription: "VChK-GPU. 1917-1922" was established in 1923. The badge was awarded for a merciless fight against counter-revolution. The holder of the badge was awarded the title of Honorary Worker of the Cheka-GPU. He had the right to bear arms, to enter all GPU buildings. The first to be awarded were employees of the Cheka and the State Political Administration, who participated in the defeat of the "Union for the Defense of the Motherland and Freedom", "National Center", "Tactical Center", in the operations "Trust" and "Syndicate", which ended in the arrests of B. Savinkov and S. Reilly.

OGPU
November 2, 1923 The Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR created the United State Political Administration (OGPU) under the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. Until the end of his life (July 20, 1926), F.E. Dzerzhinsky remained the chairman of the GPU and the OGPU, who was replaced by V.R. Menzhinsky, who headed the OGPU until 1934.

On December 17, 1927, by order of the OGPU, a sign with the profile of F.E. was established for the 10th anniversary of the security agencies. Dzerzhinsky against the background of a red banner. The place for wearing the "anniversary token" was determined by the left breast pocket.

On November 23, 1932, the OGPU issued an order stating: "In commemoration of the 15th anniversary, establish the badge" VChK-OGPU. 1917-1932", which should be given the meaning of the highest award of the OGPU collegium" The badge was presented until the end of 1940 to employees of the OGPU, and since 1934 - to the Main Directorate of State Security of the NKVD of the USSR, who distinguished themselves "in the fight against counter-revolution" and in the suppression of hostile intrigues of foreign intelligence as in Russia and in Republican Spain.

NKVD
July 10, 1934 in accordance with the decision of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR, the state security bodies were included in the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs (NKVD) of the USSR. After the death of Menzhinsky, the work of the OGPU, and later the NKVD, from 1934 to 1936. led by G.G. Yagoda. From 1936 to 1938. The NKVD was headed by N.I. Yezhov. November 1938 to 1945 L.P. Beria was the head of the NKVD.

The badge "Honored Worker of the NKVD", put into effect by a decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR from December 31, 1940, was awarded to employees "for merits in the management or direct performance of work to protect state security and for the successful completion of special tasks of the government." This sign was also awarded to employees who distinguished themselves on the fronts of World War II, who managed to neutralize the efforts of the Abwehr and the Gestapo. The award was made until 1946, when the NKVD was transformed into the Ministry of State Security.

NKGB
USSR
February 3, 1941 The NKVD of the USSR was divided into two independent bodies: the NKVD of the USSR and the People's Commissariat of State Security (NKGB) of the USSR. People's Commissar of Internal Affairs - L.P. Beria. People's Commissar for State Security - VN Merkulov. In July 1941 The NKGB of the USSR and the NKVD of the USSR were again merged into a single people's commissariat - the NKVD of the USSR. In April 1943 The People's Commissariat for State Security of the USSR was re-formed, headed by V.N. Merkulov.

MGB
March 15, 1946 The NKGB was transformed into the Ministry of State Security. Minister - V.S. Abakumov. In 1951 - 1953. the post of Minister of State Security was held by S.D. Ignatiev. In March 1953 a decision was made to merge the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of State Security into a single Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR headed by S.N. Kruglov.

The badge "Honored Chekist of the MGB" repeated in appearance the badge "Honored Worker of the NKVD". Established in 1946.

MIA March 7, 1953 a decision was made to merge the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of State Security into a single Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR headed by S.N. Kruglov.

KGB
USSR
March 13, 1954 The State Security Committee under the Council of Ministers of the USSR was created.
From 1954 to 1958 the leadership of the KGB was carried out by I.A. Serov,
from 1958 to 1961 - A.N. Shelepin,
from 1961 to 1967 - V.E. Semichastny,
from 1967 to 1982 - Yu.V.Andropov,
from May to December 1982 - V.V. Fedorchuk,
from 1982 to 1988 - V.M. Chebrikov,
from 1988 to August 1991 - V.A. Kryuchkov,
August to November 1991 - V.V. Bakatin.
December 3, 1991 The President of the USSR MS Gorbachev signed the Law "On the reorganization of state security agencies". On the basis of the Law, the KGB of the USSR was abolished and, for the transitional period, the Inter-Republican Security Service and the Central Intelligence Service of the USSR (currently the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation) were created on its basis.

KGB - STEPS OF FORMATION

SME
November 28, 1991 The President of the USSR MS Gorbachev signed the Decree "On the Approval of the Provisional Regulations on the Inter-Republican Security Service".
Head - V.V. Bakatin (from November 1991 to December 1991).

KGB
RSFSR
May 6, 1991 Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR B.N. Yeltsin and Chairman of the KGB of the USSR V.A. Kryuchkov signed a protocol on the formation in accordance with the decision of the Congress of People's Deputies of Russia of the State Security Committee of the RSFSR, which has the status of a Union-Republican State Committee. V.V. Ivanenko was appointed its leader.

In 1957, three years after the formation of the KGB under the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the badge "Honorary State Security Officer" was established for the 40th anniversary of the state security agencies. The award was made "for specific results achieved in operational performance" in accordance with the decision of the Board of the Committee. This award marked 7375 people.

AFB
November 26, 1991 President of the Russian Federation Boris N. Yeltsin signed a Decree on the transformation of the KGB of the RSFSR into the Federal Security Agency of the RSFSR.
The AFB was headed by V.V. Ivanenko from November 1991 to December 1991.

MB
January 24, 1992 The President of the Russian Federation Boris N. Yeltsin signed a Decree on the formation of the Ministry of Security of the Russian Federation on the basis of the abolished Federal Security Agency of the RSFSR and the Inter-Republican Security Service.
Minister - V.P. Barannikov since January 1992 to July 1993,
N.M. Golushko since July 1993 to December 1993

FSK
December 21, 1993 Russian President B.N. Yeltsin signed a Decree on the abolition of the Ministry of Security and the creation of the Federal Counterintelligence Service.
Director - N.M. Golushko since December 1993. to March 1994,
S.V.Stepashin since March 1994 to June 1995

By order of the FSB of March 22, 1994, the badge "Honorary Counterintelligence Officer" was established. They were awarded for special merits in operational activities and for their initiative and perseverance. The awarded were provided with benefits in the field of medical, sanatorium and housing, they were assigned a monthly bonus to their official salary and were given the right to wear a military uniform upon dismissal, regardless of length of service.

FSB
April 3, 1995 The President of the Russian Federation Boris N. Yeltsin signed the Law "On the Bodies of the Federal Security Service in the Russian Federation", on the basis of which the FSB is the legal successor of the FSK.
Director - M.I.Barsukov since July 1995. to June 1996,
N.D. Kovalev since July 1996 to July 1998,
V.V. Putin since July 1998 to August 1999,
N.P. Patrushev since August 1999

The badge of three degrees "For service in counterintelligence" was established by order of the FSB No. 256 of July 12, 1994. This badge is awarded to servicemen and civilian personnel of the FSB of the Russian Federation "for the positive results achieved in their official activities and having at least 15 years of work experience in security agencies." As of December 2000, 16 working employees of the FSB Directorate in the Yaroslavl Region were awarded the badge "For Service in Counterintelligence".

FSB MEDAL "FOR DIFFERENCE IN MILITARY SERVICE" I DEGREE

LENIN ABOUT VChK

Comrades! Of course, you all know what wild hatred this institution inspires in the Russian emigration also to those numerous representatives of the ruling classes of the imperialist countries who live with this Russian emigration. Still would! - this is the institution that was our smashing weapon against countless conspiracies, countless attempts on Soviet power by people who were infinitely stronger than us. They, the capitalists and landlords, had all international connections, all international support in their hands, they had the support of states incomparably more powerful than ours. You know from the history of these conspiracies how these people acted. You know that it was impossible to respond to them otherwise than by repression, merciless, quick, immediate, relying on the sympathy of the workers and peasants. This is the dignity of our Cheka.

REPRESSIVE POLICY OF THE BOLSHEVIST GOVERNMENT

The October coup d'état carried out by the Bolshevik

party, laid the foundation for mass terror, unprecedented in the history of Russia.

We find it difficult to indicate all the punitive decrees of the Soviet government. But it's clear

that from the first days of the revolution, on orders "from above", and not on the initiative

"from below", shot and arrested in layers, according to class, professional or

party affiliation. So, at the end of November 1917, everyone was arrested

employees of the State Bank, and in December - all the leaders of the cadet

draw up a decree "on the fight against counter-revolutionary saboteurs." At the same

day is created by the Cheka.

In Petrograd, those arrested are usually imprisoned in Kronstadt prisons,

and especially important - to the Peter and Paul Fortress. The exception is not

"arrest immediately all members of the Romanian embassy and the Romanian

missions ... the entire staff of employees at all institutions of the embassy,

consulates and other official Romanian institutions".

With the arrests put on such a grand scale, by the beginning of February

1918 Kronstadt and Petrograd prisons were overcrowded and felt

the Soviet government ordered the People's Commissariat of Justice to take to

provincial prisons from one-third to one-half of all prisoners

Petrograd. At the same time, the Council of People's Commissars amnestied part of the criminal

criminals who were serving sentences in Petrograd prisons, primarily for

participation in wine pogroms and banditry. The paralysis of the transport system, however,

did not allow the People's Commissariat of Justice to comply with the government's decision.

And the unloading of prisons was carried out in a more natural way for that time.

By shooting.

Trotsky's leadership formed an "extraordinary commission for

food", endowed with "unrestricted powers to adopt

emergency measures". The "work" of the commission led to new mass executions and

arrests. And a week later, on the 21st, due to the overcrowding of prisons and

lack of food for prisoners, the Council of People's Commissars stated that

"enemy agents, speculators ... counter-revolutionary agitators (and)

German spies" will be shot by the punitive organs of the Soviet

authorities at the crime scene. At the same time, the government created

"Extraordinary Commission for the Unloading of Petrograd".

declared Moscow under martial law and pointed out that "persons caught on

the place where they committed the crime will be shot by detachments

revolutionary army"; "organizers of counter-revolutionary uprisings and

speeches" - to indulge in an "extraordinary revolutionary trial"; and

counter-revolutionary agitators - "to the court of the Moscow revolutionary tribunal".

On the same day, the Petrograd Cheka proposed to Moscow to form district

capital, punitive functions in Moscow were taken over by the Cheka, which moved here.

The Cheka began its activities in Moscow with mass arrests of anarchists and

internment in concentration camps of "counter-revolutionary

prisoners of war." From the attention of the government did not escape and

Lenin considered the presence of arrests the best indicator of work. Here is the text

telegram sent by him to Tula in June "Surprised by the lack of news.

Report urgently how much grain has been dumped, how many wagons have been sent, how much

speculators and kulaks arrested."

In early May, revolutionary tribunals were set up. And in June, the first

mass repressions fell upon the right SRs and Mensheviks.

VChK/GPU: documents and materials. Yu. G. Felshtinsky. - M .: Publishing house of humanitarian literature, 1995.

Chaired by V. I. Lenin

9. Dzerzhinsky's report on the organization and composition of the Commission for Combating Sabotage.

Line-up (not yet complete): 1) Ksenofontov, 2) Zhidelev, 3) Averin, 4) Peterson, 5) Peters, 6) Evseev, 7) Trifonov V., 8) Dzerzhinsky, 9) Sergo? 10) Vasilievsky?

Tasks of the commission: 1) To suppress and liquidate all counter-revolutionary and sabotage attempts and actions throughout Russia, no matter who they come from.

2) Bringing all saboteurs and counter-revolutionaries to trial by the Revolutionary Tribunal and working out measures to combat them.

3) The commission conducts only a preliminary investigation, as it is necessary for suppression.

The commission is divided into departments: 1) information department, 2) organizational department (for organizing the fight against counter-revolution throughout Russia and branch department(s)), 3) struggle department. The commission will be finalized tomorrow. For the time being, the Liquidation Commission of the Military Revolutionary Committee is functioning. The commissions should first of all pay attention to the press, sabotage, Cadets, Right SRs, saboteurs, and strikers. Measures - confiscation, expulsion, deprivation of cards, publication of lists of enemies of the people, etc.

Resolved:

9. Name the commission - the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission under the Council of People's Commissars for the fight against counter-revolution and sabotage - and approve it.

V. I. Lenin and the Cheka [collection of documents (1917-1922)]. M., IPL, 1975.

FROM THE "REGULATIONS ON EXTRAORDINARY COMMISSIONS", ADOPTED AT THE ALL-RUSSIAN CONFERENCE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY COMMISSION JUNE 10, 1918

Top secret

1) At each regional, provincial, county border, etc. Sov Depe The Executive Committee or the Soviet singles out a group of individuals devoted to the cause of the revolution and Soviet power, comrades who form the Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Profiteering.

NOTE 1. The chairman from among these members is appointed by the Soviets, and the number of members is determined by local conditions.

NOTE 2. Where there is a regional and provincial Soviet, or where there are separate workers' and peasants' Soviets, there should be formed one Commission. In the first case: The commission must be attached to the regional Soviet, which serves the province and city in which the regional Soviet is located. In the second case Ch. The commission should be organized under the Soviet of Workers', Red Army and Peasants' Deputies.

2) Provincial Commissions are organs of administrative power that take upon themselves the task of combating counter-revolution and speculation, as well as guarding Soviet order and tranquility in their province, as well as guarding the steady implementation of all orders of Soviet power.

3) The provincial and regional commissions are subordinate to the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission and report to the local Soviet of Deputies or the Executive Committee, the commissioners report to the provincial and regional Cheka and their executive committees. The general management and direction of the work of the Commission belongs to the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission.

NOTE: All circulars, orders and instructions coming from the Cheka are executed and cannot be canceled by lower authorities.

4) The tasks of the Commissions include the following:

a) Ruthless struggle against counter-revolution and speculation with the available forces at the disposal of the Commission.

b) Observation of the local bourgeoisie and the direction of counter-revolutionary work among them.

c) Bringing to the attention of local and central authorities about ongoing disorders and abuses and suppressing them.

d) Production of inquiries on state crimes.

e) Research under the state of emergency.

f) Surveillance of persons passing through the border.

g) Surveillance of foreign intelligence officers.

h) Search and surveillance of persons hiding from the authorities.

i) Participation in the preservation of public peace, in the absence of police officers and assistance to the latter in restoring the disturbed revolutionary order.

j) Fulfillment of instructions in the highest provincial Soviet bodies for the production of inquiries about crimes, when deemed necessary.

k) Participation in some meetings necessary for the struggle.

l) Surveillance and registration of all those who cross the border and a thorough check of documents for the right to enter and exit, etc.

m) The strictest monitoring of the implementation of the decrees and orders of the Soviet government.

5) The Commission, observing and fulfilling its above-mentioned duties and strictly following the normal revolutionary order in the province, taking preventive and warning measures for this in case of any kind of counter-revolutionary actions, pogroms and Black Hundred riots, has the right to do the following:

a) propose to the Soviet of Deputies to introduce a state of emergency or martial law throughout the province;

6) issue binding decrees concerning the external revolutionary order in the province;

c) subject criminals to administrative arrest and impose fines in the general manner;

d) has the right to carry out searches and arrests of persons suspected of counter-revolution and, in general, activities directed against the Soviet power.

6) The Commission works in close contact with all provincial Soviet institutions and renders them all possible assistance.

7) If abuse and omission are noticed in Soviet organs, the Commission immediately takes appropriate measures.

8) If abuses and irregularities are discovered in the Commission itself, then the Provincial Council or the Executive Committee takes measures against this, up to the arrest and trial of the members of the Commission.

9) The Cheka directs the work of all provincial commissions and gives them direction and helps their successful work.

10) For inaction, the Commission is responsible both to the local and higher authorities, and to the Cheka.

11) Provincial commissions have the right to direct and point out the shortcomings of the external militia and control its work.

12) If there are large centers in the province where there are Extraordinary Commissions, then these are subordinate to the provincial Commission, unless there is a special instruction from the center.

13) From among experienced and reliable comrades, the uyezd Executive Committees appoint commissars for the same purpose in each small town, who give an account to the uyezd Soviet of Deputies and are subordinate to the provincial commission in their actions. The volost councils, in turn, allocate the same commissars, who are subordinate to the uyezd commission or the commissar, and report to the volost council.

14) It is the duty of the uyezd and volost commissars to monitor the revolutionary order in their area, to ensure that there is no counter-revolutionary pogrom agitation, to vigilantly monitor the local bourgeoisie, conduct inquiries, and supervise unreliable counter-revolutionary elements, kulaks, speculators and other enemies. Soviet power, to take preventive measures and warnings against such ...

Lubyanka. VChK-OGPU-NKVD-NKGB-MGB-MVD-KGB, 1917-1960. Directory.

"OWNER OF LUBYANKA"

At the suggestion of Lenin on December 7 (20), 1917, F.E. Dzerzhinsky was appointed chairman of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission under the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR for the fight against counter-revolution and sabotage. The Cheka and its local bodies received the broadest powers, up to the imposition of death sentences. “The right to be shot is extremely important for the Cheka,” wrote Dzerzhinsky. Being a fanatic of communism (the English spy and at the same time diplomat R. B. Lockhart wrote that Dzerzhinsky's eyes "burned with the cold fire of fanaticism. He never blinked. His eyelids seemed paralyzed"), he created a system for suppressing opponents of Soviet power. To achieve this goal, he used any methods - both cruel (summary executions of hostages, "red terror" according to the class principle, the creation of the first concentration camps), and softer ones (temporary isolation or expulsion of dissidents abroad, etc.). His phrase "a Chekist can be a person with a cold head, a warm heart and clean hands" was subsequently widely used in the USSR to characterize the image of a Chekist. At the same time, in his personal life he was an ascetically modest and extremely hardworking person, completely immersed in the work entrusted to the party. As M.I. Latsis recalled, Dzerzhinsky “is not content with just leadership. He wants to take action. And we often saw how he himself interrogates the accused and rummages through incriminating materials. He is so captivated by the case that he spends the nights in the premises of the Cheka. He has no time to go home. He sleeps right there, in the study behind the screen. He eats right there, the courier brings him food, which all the employees of the Cheka eat.

A Brief History of the Special Services Zayakin Boris Nikolaevich

Chapter 48

The original name of the Cheka appeared on December 20, 1917. After the end of the civil war in 1922, the new abbreviation was GPU. Following the formation of the USSR, the OGPU of the USSR arose on its basis.

In 1934, the OGPU was merged with the internal affairs bodies - the police - and a single Union-Republican People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs was formed. Genrikh Yagoda became People's Commissar. He was shot in 1938, as, indeed, was the subsequent People's Commissar of State Security, Nikolai Yezhov.

Lavrenty Pavlovich Beria was appointed People's Commissar of Internal Affairs in 1938. In February 1941, the People's Commissariat for State Security, the NKGB, was separated from this united structure as an independent one.

In July 1941, he was again returned to the NKVD, and in 1943 he was again separated for many years into an independent structure - the NKGB, renamed in 1946 into the Ministry of State Security. Since 1943, it was headed by Merkulov, who was shot in 1953.

After the death of Stalin, Beria once again united the internal affairs bodies and state security bodies into a single ministry - the Ministry of Internal Affairs and himself headed it. On June 26, 1953, Beria was arrested and soon shot. Kruglov became Minister of the Interior.

In March 1954, the State Security Committee under the Council of Ministers of the USSR was created, which separated from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Serov was appointed its chairman.

After him, this post was successively occupied by: Shelepin, Semichastny, Andropov, Fedorchuk, Chebrikov, Kryuchkov, Shebarshin, Bakatin, Glushko, Barsukov, Kovalev, Putin, Patrushev, Bortnikov.

Any state can only be called a state when it is able to ensure its security by the methods and means available to it.

Special services are a universal tool that has been used in all eras, on all continents and in various conditions. Despite all the differences, the special services have common features. Any, even the ruling party, should be controlled by the special services.

First of all, this is secrecy, the use of non-traditional and often closed methods of working with agents and special technical means.

The significance and effectiveness of the work of special services naturally varies depending on historical conditions and, accordingly, the tasks that are set for them by the political leadership.

After the crisis of the 1990s, the Russian intelligence services regained their former importance. Thanks to the fact that the former head of the FSB from 1998 to 1999, Vladimir Putin, became the president of the country, the increase in the prestige of security services structures has risen.

The head of the Kremlin never concealed his sympathy for this organization. He formulated his credo in the following phrase: "Chekists cannot be former."

This phrase allows us to draw a conclusion about the continuity of the organization and state that its history will never be revised: the predecessor of the FSB was the devoted Soviet KGB, which, in turn, descended from the Cheka - the Extraordinary All-Russian Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution founded by the Bolsheviks on December 20, 1917, profiteering and sabotage.

Until the collapse of the Soviet Union, a monument to its founder, Felix Dzerzhinsky, adorned Lubyanka, the square in front of the organization's headquarters near the Kremlin. There has been a lot of talk about its restoration in recent years.

Putin has again raised the prestige of the KGB-FSB, not only by placing many of his former colleagues in leading positions in politics and economics, but by restoring virtually all of the KGB's power to the FSB.

Putin's predecessor and anti-patriot of Russia, Boris Yeltsin, at the behest of America, deliberately destroyed the omnipotence of the KGB, dividing its functions between several organizations, deliberately making them competing.

Today, the FSB is again responsible for the security of the state, counterintelligence and border protection - only foreign intelligence has remained independent.

At present, together with the army, the FSB is the largest recipient of budgetary funds and is not subject to any serious control.

OGPU - NKVD: cover group "Vyshinsky. What kind of relationship did you have with Yagoda in 1928-1929? Rykov. In relations with Yagoda, everything was illegal. Already in this period, along with the legal part ... there were personnel who were specially conspiratorial for the purpose of