NKVD

The Narodnyi Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del {{Audio|ru-NKVD.ogg|listen}} (or NKVD) (Russian: ????, ???????? ??????????? ?????????? ???; People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs) was a government department which handled a number of the Soviet Union's affairs of state.

Evolution of the NKVD structure and tasks

After the October Revolution of 1917, the Bolsheviks dissolved the old police and sought the creation of Workers and Peasants' Militsiya under the supervision of the NKVD of the RSFSR. However, the NKVD apparatus was overwhelmed by functions inherited directly from the Imperial MVD, such as the supervision of the local governments and firefighting, and the new proletarian workforce was largely inexperienced.

Related Topics:
October Revolution - 1917 - Militsiya - MVD

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Realizing that it was left with no capable security force, the Council of People's Commissars of the Russian SFSR created a secret political police, the Cheka (the Russian acronym for the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for the Suppression of Counterrevolution and Sabotage), led by Felix Dzerzhinsky. It gained the right to undertake quick non-judicial trials and executions, if that was deemed necessary in order to "protect the revolution".

Related Topics:
Council of People's Commissars - Russian SFSR - Cheka - Felix Dzerzhinsky

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The Cheka was reorganized in 1922 as the GPU (State Political Directorate) of the NKVD of the Russian SFSR. Upon the formation of the Soviet Union in 1923, the GPU was transformed into the all-Union OGPU (Joint State Political Directorate), under the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. The NKVD of the RSFSR retained control of the militsiya, as well as various other responsibilities.

Related Topics:
1922 - GPU - Soviet Union - 1923 - OGPU - Council of People's Commissars - USSR

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In 1934, the OGPU was incorporated into the newly-created NKVD of the USSR, becoming the Main Directorate for State Security (GUGB); the NKVD of the Russian SFSR ceased to exist and was not resurrected until 1946 (as the MVD of the RSFSR). As a result, the NKVD also became responsible for all detention facilities (including the forced labor camps, known as the Gulag) as well as for the regular police.

Related Topics:
1934 - GUGB - 1946 - Gulag - Police

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Other NKVD departments dealt with:

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• general police functions and criminal investigations (militsiya);
• intelligence and overseas special operations (Inostrannyi Otdel);
• counter-intelligence;
• personal security for high officials,

and other related tasks.

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At various times, the NKVD had the following Chief Directorates, abbreviated as "??" - ??????? ??????????.

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:???? - ??????????????? ????????????, of State Security (GUGB)

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:????? - ??????-???????????? ???????, of workers' and peasants' militsiya

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:????? - ??????????? ? ?????????? ??????, of border and internal guards

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:???? - ???????? ??????, of fire guards

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:???????? - ????????? ??????, of highways

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:????, ???????? ??????, of railways

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:????? - GULAG

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:??? - ?????????, of economics

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:??? - ?????????, of transport

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:????? - ????????????? ? ???????????????, of POWs and interned persons

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On February 3, 1941, the Special Sections of the NKVD (responsible for counter-intelligence in the military) became part of the Army and Navy (RKKA and RKKF, respectively). The GUGB was removed from the NKVD and renamed the NKGB. Following the outbreak of World War II, the NKVD and NKGB were reunited on July 20,1941 and counter-intelligence was returned to the NKVD in January 1942. In April 1943 it was again transferred to the Narkomat of Defence and Narkomat of the Navy, becoming SMERSH (from Smert' Shpionam or "Death to Spies"); at the same time, the NKVD was again separated from the NKGB.

Related Topics:
February 3 - 1941 - NKGB - World War II - July 20 - 1942 - 1943 - SMERSH

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In 1946, the NKVD was renamed the MVD and the NKGB was renamed the MGB. Following yet another merger with the MVD in 1953, the Checkist forces were finally removed from the MVD in 1954 to finally become the KGB. The police force was finally split into two independent agencies:

Related Topics:
1946 - 1953 - 1954

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• MVD (Ministerstvo Vnutrennikh Del; Ministry of the Interior), responsible for the criminal police, correctional facilities and fire rescue.
• KGB (Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti; Committee of State Security) - responsible for the political police, counter-intelligence, intelligence, personal protection and confidential communications.