Lavrentiy Beria's Secret Police & NEP at War

Question 1

1. In 1938, what did the Great Terror begin to do?
   - When did Yezhov resign as head of the NKVD?
2. What were Beria’s first 2 major successes as head of the NKVD? (Include dates).

Answer 1

1. Wind down.
   - November 1938.
2. Yezhov’s arrest in April 1939.
   Trotsky’s murder in Mexico in 1940.

Question 2

1. What were Beria and the NKVD responsible for policing during WW2?
2. What minority group did Beria organise the mass deportation of in 1942?
   - Why were they deported?
   - By 1953, how many Kalmyks were killed due to brutal treatment?

Answer 2

1. Ethnic minorities.
2. Kalmyks.
   - Stalin feared they would welcome a German invasion.
   - 77,000.

Question 3

1. How many Chechens did Beria organise the mass deportation of in 1944?
   - How many days did it take to do this?
   - How many deaths were caused by the deportation?

Answer 3

1. 460,000.
   - 7 days.
   - 170,000.