How did the use of Secret Police change through the period 1917 to 1985? (Not Finished!) pg74

Question 1

What was government influence reinforced by?

Answer 1

It was reinforced by the atmosphere of terror.

Question 2

Who was the leader that used the most terror with the secret police?

Answer 2

Stalin

Question 3

What did Lenin establish?

Answer 3

He established a Bolshevik secret police, the cheka in 1917 under the leadership of Felix Dzerzhinsky.

Question 4

What was the task of the Secret Police( Cheka)?

Answer 4

Its task was to act against counter-revolution and sabotage which it undertook with great ruthlessness.

Question 5

What happened in 1921 and 1922 which showed their ruthlessness?

Answer 5

Up to 200,000 opponents were shot and this showed that execution now became the rule rather than the exception.

Question 6

What did the name of the Cheka change to and then change again a year later?

Answer 6

GPU then OGPU

Question 7

What was the significance of these name changes?

Answer 7

Showed the growing independence of the secret police from interreference from other state institutions.

Question 8

Who were the only people the secret police took orders from?

Answer 8

The leadership of the Communist Party

Question 9

What did the OGPU then change to and why?

Answer 9

Their name changed to the NKVD as this was a result of the merge with enlarged Interior Ministry.

Question 10

Who was Yagoda?

Answer 10

He became head of the secret police in 1934 and was keen to prove his loyalty to Stalin.

Question 11

What did Yagoda’s time as head of the secret police see the rapid expansion of?

Answer 11

Gulag, Labour Camps

Question 12

What was one of Yagod’s biggest achievements?

Answer 12

He completed the White Sea Canal which is an 141-mile canal which he used up to 180,000 labours from the Gulag to dig by hand rather than using machines. The canal was completed under budget in less than two years but at the cost of at least 10,000 live and to cut costs the canal was only dug to the depth of 12 feet making it useless for most shipping.

Question 13

What happened to end Yagoda’s career?

Answer 13

he was removed from the office and Stalin had him shot in 1938

Question 14

Who replaced Yagoda? Why had he been brought to the attention of Stalin?

Answer 14

Yagoda was replaced by Nikolai Yezhov whose enthusiasm for torturing suspects had brought him to the attention of Stalin

Question 15

What was Yezhov’s nickname and why?

Answer 15

He was nicknamed ‘Bloody dwarf’ as he was only 5 feet (1.5m) tall and he was brutal

Question 16

What happened as a result of this change in leadership of the NKVD?

Answer 16

The number of people in the Gulags increased as Yezhov liked the idea of the Gulags. So did the deaths and quotas were made for the execution of people in the Gulags.
Surveillance of the public by the NKVD increased as plain clothed police officers used alongside informers the general public to collect information on the behavior of individuals.

Question 17

What did Yezhov enjoy?

Answer 17

He enjoyed undertaking in the torture of suspects himself and once attended a politburo meeting with bloodied cuffs fresh from torturing ‘enemies of the revolution’

Question 18

Who replaced Yezhov as head of the NKVD?

Answer 18

Lavrenti Beria

Question 19

How had he replaced Yezhov?

Answer 19

He had undermined Yezhov by briefing Stalin with criticisms of Yezhov’s work in order to secure his removal and therefore his job.