Control of the people: The use of the secret police

Question 1

Intro for question on Secret police?

Answer 1

During 1917-85, the soviet government used a range of different tactics to maintain their control.
One of the most infamous was their use of secret police to implement fear/intimidation over the population.
This was a key feature of Soviet rule since 1917 and continued to be used throughout the period.

Question 2

The role of Yagoda?

Answer 2

• Became head of secret police in 1934 - enthusiastic and wanted to please
• Stalin Oversaw the rapid expansion of the Gulag (forced labour camps).
• They became important in supporting industrialisation as they provided slave labour
• Ensured that NKVD could deal with opponents away from regular courts
• Provided labour to getting resources where noone would go out of free will
• Constructed White Sea Canal with slave labour - huge achievement but was useless
• His influence widened during political purges
  Eventually he was removed, accused of not safeguarding Kirov (whose murder started the purges).
• Was shot in 1938

Question 3

The role of Yezhov?

Answer 3

• Known as the ‘bloody dwarf’ for his ruthlessness
• The process of arrest, trial and imprisonment was sped up
• Considered the Gulag underused - number of inmates rose
• Gave kill quotas for the Gulags Surveillance of public increased - more detectives and plain clothed policemen employed
• Group of people considered opponents widened - anyone who didn’t show revolutionary spirit It was during
• Yezhov’s leadership that the NKVD itself was purged
• Accused of the excessive purges and dismissed in 1938

Question 4

The role of Beria?

Answer 4

• Beria felt excessive arrests were ineffiecent - reverted to system of police procedure which required actual evidence
• Oversaw the assassination of Trotsky
• Wanted to make Gulags more efficient - provided food rations to increase productivity
• Early released cancelled to continue the use of prisoner’s expertise
• Under Beria, the Gulag reached its biggest expanse

Question 5

How did the role of secret police change during the war?

Answer 5

• Power struggle with NKVD and Army after the war
• Very much focused on securing the communist party at first, then relaxed after the purges and then its implementation of control is reintroduced
• Focus on using people for labor in Gulags increases towards the end with Beria until he is killed.