Cheka facts for kids
Cheka badge as it was in 1922
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1917 |
| Preceding agency |
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| Dissolved | (reorganized and renamed) 1922 |
| Superseding agency |
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| Type | Secret police |
| Headquarters | 2 Gorokhovaya street, Petrograd Lubyanka Square, Moscow |
| Agency executive | |
| Parent agency | .svg){kind=small} Council of the People's Commissars |
The Cheka was the very first secret police group in the Soviet Union. It was created on December 20, 1917. This happened after Vladimir Lenin, a key leader, issued an official order. Its first leader was a man named Felix Dzerzhinsky.
By late 1918, many Cheka offices were set up in cities. These groups arrested or punished people who were seen as enemies of the government. After 1922, the Cheka changed its name and structure several times. Even so, its members were called "Chekists" for a long time. This term was used until the late 1980s. Today, some people still call members of Russia's security services "Chekists." This often happens when Vladimir Putin's political opponents talk about the FSB.
From the very beginning, the Cheka was a very important part of the Bolshevik communist government. It helped keep the government safe and in power. In 1921, the Cheka had about 200,000 troops. These troops helped control and run the Gulag system, which was a network of prison camps.
Contents
What was the Cheka?
The Cheka was a special organization in the early days of the Soviet Union. Its main job was to protect the new communist government. It acted as a secret police force. This meant it worked to find and stop anyone who was against the government.
How the Cheka Started
The Cheka was formed right after the Russian Revolution in 1917. The new government, led by Vladimir Lenin, needed a way to keep control. They wanted to prevent people from trying to overthrow them. So, Lenin ordered the creation of the Cheka. Its first leader, Felix Dzerzhinsky, was chosen to lead this powerful group.
What Did the Cheka Do?
The Cheka had a lot of power. It could arrest people it suspected of being against the government. This included people who disagreed with the new rules. It also targeted those who were seen as making unfair profits. The Cheka had its own troops. These troops helped enforce the government's rules. They also managed the large system of prison camps.
The Name "Cheka"
The full name of the Cheka in 1918 was quite long. In Russian, it meant "All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution, Profiteering and Corruption". This long name explains its main goals. It was set up to fight against anyone trying to undo the revolution. It also aimed to stop people from making money unfairly.
What "Chekist" Means Today
Even though the Cheka changed its name many times, its members were always called "chekists." This nickname stuck throughout the entire Soviet period. Today, you can still hear this term used in Russia. For example, President Vladimir Putin used to work for the KGB, which was a later security agency. Because of his past, some people in the Russian media call him a "chekist."
Images for kids
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Members of the presidium of VCheKa (left to right) Yakov Peters, Józef Unszlicht, Abram Belenky (standing), Felix Dzerzhinsky, Vyacheslav Menzhinsky, 1921
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Smolny, the seat of the Soviet government, 1917
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Grigory Petrovsky
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Felix Dzerzhinsky in a meeting among other members of the Presidium of the Cheka, 1919
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Portrait of Martin Latsis on a Soviet postage stamp.
See also
In Spanish: Checa para niños
