Main Directorate of State Security (USSR)
Encyclopedia
The Main Directorate of State Security was the name of the Soviet
secret police
from July 1934 to April 1943. It was run under the auspices of the Peoples Commissariat of Internal Affairs (NKVD
). Its first head was first deputy of People's Commissar of Internal Affairs (then - Genrikh Yagoda
), Commissar 1st rank of State Security Yakov Agranov
.
(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 Peoples Commissariat of State Security or 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 GUGB was again separated from the NKVD
as NKGB.
structure. GUGB departments (or Sections) dealt with - intelligence, internal security, counter-intelligence, protection of government and secret communications.
First chief of GUGB was Yakov Agranov
, Commissar 1st rank of State Security and first deputy of People's Commissar of Internal Affairs. Next chief of GUGB from April 15, 1937 to September 8, 1938 was komkor Mikhail Frinovsky
, he was succeeded by Lavrenty Beria, then just promoted to Commissar 1st rank of State Security. When Beria become People's Commissar of Internal Affairs (head of NKVD), Commissar 3rd rank of State Security Vsevolod Merkulov become his first deputy and new and last head of GUGB.
(head of GUGB) Commissar 1st rank of State Security Yakov Agranov
1. Operational Department Karl Pauker
(headed by)
2. Special Department Gleb Boki
3. Department of Economics - (ЭКО/EKO) Lev Mironov
4. Special Department - (OO) Mark Gay
5. Secret Political Department - (СПО/SPO) Georgy Molchanov
6. Foreign Department - (ИНО/INO) Artur Artuzov
7. Department of Transport - (ТО) Vladimir Kichkin
8. Department of Information and Statistic - (УСО/USO) Yakov Genkin
9. Staff Department - (OK) Yakov Weynschtok
By the end of 1937 People's Commissar of Internal Affairs Nikolai Yezhov
, in his order #00362 had change the departments number from nine to twelve.
(head of GUGB) komkor Mikhail Frinovsky
After Lavrenty Beria took over Frinovsky place as a GUGB head, in September 1938, GUGB when through another organizational change -
(head of GUGB) Commissar 1st rank of State Security Lavrenty Beria
and personal ranks used in Militsiya
; the rank insignia was also very distinct. Even though insignia introduced in 1937 followed the Red Army
collar patch patterns, it assigned them very different ranks for GUGB and Internal Troops
/political/specialist branches, with GUGB rank placed at least one grade higher than a similar army equivalent. http://www.rkka.ru/uniform/terms/zvania_nkvd.htm http://www.uniforminsignia.net/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1923 http://www.uniforminsignia.net/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1924 http://www.uniforminsignia.net/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1925.
When GUGB and Militsiya ranks were replaced with military ranks and insignia in February 1943, Major to Sergeant ranks were aligned with Colonel to Junior Lieutenant, and Senior Major and up were replaced with various degrees of Commissar.
In 1945, General Commissar Lavrentiy Beria
received the rank of the Marshal of the Soviet Union
, and other GUGB Commissars received the ranks from Generals of the Army to Major General.
The ranks of GUGB used in 1937-1943 are as follows:
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
secret police
Secret police
Secret police are a police agency which operates in secrecy and beyond the law to protect the political power of an individual dictator or an authoritarian political regime....
from July 1934 to April 1943. It was run under the auspices of the Peoples Commissariat of Internal Affairs (NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
). Its first head was first deputy of People's Commissar of Internal Affairs (then - Genrikh Yagoda
Genrikh Yagoda
Genrikh Grigoryevich Yagoda , born Enokh Gershevich Ieguda , was a Soviet state security official who served as director of the NKVD, the Soviet Union's Stalin-era security and intelligence agency, from 1934 to 1936...
), Commissar 1st rank of State Security Yakov Agranov
Yakov Agranov
Yakov Saulovich Agranov was a prominent member of the Cheka, the forerunner of the Soviet KGB....
.
History
Main Directorate of State Security evolved from the Joint State Political Directorate (or. OGPU). On February 3, 1941, the Special Sections (or. OO) of the GUGB-NKVDNKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
(responsible for counter-intelligence in the military) became part of the Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
and Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
(RKKA and RKKF, respectively). The GUGB was removed from the NKVD and renamed Peoples Commissariat of State Security or NKGB.
Following the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, 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
SMERSH
SMERSH was the counter-intelligence agency in the Red Army formed in late 1942 or even earlier, but officially founded on April 14, 1943. The name SMERSH was coined by Joseph Stalin...
(from Smert' Shpionam or "Death to Spies"); at the same time, the GUGB was again separated from the NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
as NKGB.
GUGB head's
By the end of 1937 GUGB was the most powerful and influential organ in NKVDNKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
structure. GUGB departments (or Sections) dealt with - intelligence, internal security, counter-intelligence, protection of government and secret communications.
First chief of GUGB was Yakov Agranov
Yakov Agranov
Yakov Saulovich Agranov was a prominent member of the Cheka, the forerunner of the Soviet KGB....
, Commissar 1st rank of State Security and first deputy of People's Commissar of Internal Affairs. Next chief of GUGB from April 15, 1937 to September 8, 1938 was komkor Mikhail Frinovsky
Mikhail Frinovsky
Mikhail Petrovich Frinovsky served as a deputy head of the NKVD in the years of the Great Purge and, along with Nikolai Yezhov was responsible for setting in motion the Great Purge.-Biography:...
, he was succeeded by Lavrenty Beria, then just promoted to Commissar 1st rank of State Security. When Beria become People's Commissar of Internal Affairs (head of NKVD), Commissar 3rd rank of State Security Vsevolod Merkulov become his first deputy and new and last head of GUGB.
Organization
Between 1934 and 1941, Main Directorate of State Security when through several organizational changes. In January 1935 in GUGB structure there were nine departments -(head of GUGB) Commissar 1st rank of State Security Yakov Agranov
Yakov Agranov
Yakov Saulovich Agranov was a prominent member of the Cheka, the forerunner of the Soviet KGB....
1. Operational Department Karl Pauker
Karl Pauker
Karl Pauker was an NKVD officer and head of Joseph Stalin's personal security until his arrest and execution....
(headed by)
2. Special Department Gleb Boki
3. Department of Economics - (ЭКО/EKO) Lev Mironov
4. Special Department - (OO) Mark Gay
5. Secret Political Department - (СПО/SPO) Georgy Molchanov
6. Foreign Department - (ИНО/INO) Artur Artuzov
Artur Artuzov
Artur Khristyanovich Artuzov Артур Христианович Артузов , headed the Soviet foreign intelligence service INO, part of OGPU, later the NKVD, from August 1931 to May 1935...
7. Department of Transport - (ТО) Vladimir Kichkin
8. Department of Information and Statistic - (УСО/USO) Yakov Genkin
9. Staff Department - (OK) Yakov Weynschtok
By the end of 1937 People's Commissar of Internal Affairs Nikolai Yezhov
Nikolai Yezhov
Nikolai Ivanovich Yezhov or Ezhov was a senior figure in the NKVD under Joseph Stalin during the period of the Great Purge. His reign is sometimes known as the "Yezhovshchina" , "the Yezhov era", a term that began to be used during the de-Stalinization campaign of the 1950s...
, in his order #00362 had change the departments number from nine to twelve.
(head of GUGB) komkor Mikhail Frinovsky
Mikhail Frinovsky
Mikhail Petrovich Frinovsky served as a deputy head of the NKVD in the years of the Great Purge and, along with Nikolai Yezhov was responsible for setting in motion the Great Purge.-Biography:...
- Department 1 [Protection of Government] Israel Dagin
- Department 2 [Operative] Ans Zalpeter
- Department 3 [counter-intelligence] (КРО/KRO) Aleksandr Minayev-Cikanovich
- Department 4 [Secret Political] (СПО/SPO) Mikhail Litvin
- Department 5 [Special] (OO) Nikolai Nikolaev- Zhuryd
- Department 6 [Transport] (TO) Mikhail Volkov
- Department 7 [Foreign (Intelligence)] (ИНО/INO) —Abram SlutskyAbram SlutskyAbram Aronovich Slutsky headed the Soviet foreign intelligence service , then part of the NKVD, from May 1935 to February 1938.-Biography:...
- Department 8 [Records and Statistic] (УСО/USO) Vladimir Cesarsky
- Department 9 [Special (codes)] (OO) Isaak Shapiro
- Department 10 [Prison] Yakov Weynschtok
- Department 11 [Maritime Transportation] (ВО/WO) Victor Yrcev
- Department 12 [Technical and Operational] (OOT) Semyen Zhukovsky
After Lavrenty Beria took over Frinovsky place as a GUGB head, in September 1938, GUGB when through another organizational change -
(head of GUGB) Commissar 1st rank of State Security Lavrenty Beria
- Department 1 - [Protection of Government] Nikolai VlasikNikolai VlasikNikolai Vlasik was a Soviet security official and General, best known as a head of Joseph Stalin's personal security from 1931 to 1952....
- Department 2 - [Secret Political] Pyotr FedotovPyotr FedotovPyotr Vasileevich Fedotov was long time Soviet security and intelligence officer, head of counterintelligence in NKVD/NKGB and head of foreign intelligence as the deputy chairman of the Committee of Information....
- Department 3 - [counter-intelligence]
- Department 4 - [Special] —
- Department 5 - [Foreign (Intelligence)] Pavel FitinPavel FitinLieutenant General Pavel Mikhailovich Fitin was a Soviet intelligence officer and was the director of Soviet intelligence during World War II, identified in the Venona cables under the code name "Viktor."- Education :Fitin graduated from a program in agricultural...
- Department 6 - [Codes]
- GUGB Investigating Section —
GUGB Ranks
The GUGB had a unique system of ranks, a blend of position-rank system used in the armyRed Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
and personal ranks used in Militsiya
Militsiya
Militsiya or militia is used as an official name of the civilian police in several former communist states, despite its original military connotation...
; the rank insignia was also very distinct. Even though insignia introduced in 1937 followed the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
collar patch patterns, it assigned them very different ranks for GUGB and Internal Troops
Internal Troops
The Internal Troops, full name Internal Troops of the Ministry for Internal Affairs ; alternatively translated as "Interior " is a paramilitary gendarmerie-like force in the now-defunct Soviet Union and its successor countries, particularly, in Russia, Ukraine, Georgia and Azerbaijan...
/political/specialist branches, with GUGB rank placed at least one grade higher than a similar army equivalent. http://www.rkka.ru/uniform/terms/zvania_nkvd.htm http://www.uniforminsignia.net/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1923 http://www.uniforminsignia.net/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1924 http://www.uniforminsignia.net/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1925.
When GUGB and Militsiya ranks were replaced with military ranks and insignia in February 1943, Major to Sergeant ranks were aligned with Colonel to Junior Lieutenant, and Senior Major and up were replaced with various degrees of Commissar.
In 1945, General Commissar Lavrentiy Beria
Lavrentiy Beria
Lavrentiy Pavlovich Beria was a Georgian Soviet politician and state security administrator, chief of the Soviet security and secret police apparatus under Joseph Stalin during World War II, and Deputy Premier in the postwar years ....
received the rank of the Marshal of the Soviet Union
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Marshal of the Soviet Union was the de facto highest military rank of the Soviet Union. ....
, and other GUGB Commissars received the ranks from Generals of the Army to Major General.
The ranks of GUGB used in 1937-1943 are as follows:
- генеральный комиссар ГБ General Commissar of State Security
- комиссар ГБ 1-го ранга CommissarCommissarCommissar is the English transliteration of an official title used in Russia from the time of Peter the Great.The title was used during the Provisional Government for regional heads of administration, but it is mostly associated with a number of Cheka and military functions in Bolshevik and Soviet...
1st rank of State Security - комиссар ГБ 2-го ранга Commissar 2nd rank of State Security
- комиссар ГБ 3-го ранга Commissar 3rd rank of State Security
- старший майор ГБ Senior Major of State Security
- майор ГБ Major of State Security
- капитан ГБ Captain of State Security
- старший лейтенант ГБ Senior Lieutenant of State Security
- лейтенант ГБ Lieutenant of State Security
- младший лейтенант ГБ Junior Lieutenant of State Security
- сержант ГБ Sergeant of State Security