NKVD facts for kids
The NKVD was a powerful government department in the Soviet Union. Its full name meant "People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs." Think of it as a huge agency that handled many different jobs. It was the main law enforcement group that carried out the wishes of the ruling All-Union Communist Party. The NKVD changed its structure many times, even three times between 1938 and 1939 alone.
Contents
What Was the NKVD?
The NKVD was like a giant government agency with many parts. It was responsible for keeping order and protecting the Soviet Union. It had both public and secret roles. The public part was similar to a regular police force. They handled everyday crimes and kept the peace.
The Public Face: Police Work
One part of the NKVD was the regular police. They worked like police forces in other countries. They helped with things like transportation, fire safety, and guarding borders. These jobs are usually done by a country's Ministry of the Interior, which is similar to a home affairs department.
The Secret Side: State Security
However, the NKVD was most known and feared for its secret activities. This was the work of a special department called the Main Directorate for State Security, or GUGB. This group acted as the Soviet secret police. Their main job was to protect the security of the Soviet Union. They did this by controlling people's lives and thoughts. This often involved harsh actions against anyone seen as an enemy of the state.
What Was the Great Purge?
During the time of Joseph Stalin, the NKVD played a big role in something called the Great Purge. This was a period when many people were wrongly accused of crimes against the government. The NKVD would arrest, question, and punish these people. Many innocent people faced severe consequences during this time. The NKVD's secret police had a lot of power to control people's lives and make sure everyone followed the government's rules.
Images for kids
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Early NKVD leaders Genrikh Yagoda, Vyacheslav Menzhinsky and Felix Dzerzhinsky, 1924
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NKVD chief Genrikh Yagoda (middle) inspecting the construction of what was then called the Moskva-Volga Canal, 1935. Behind him is Nikita Khrushchev.
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Lavrentiy Beria with Stalin (in background) and Stalin's daughter Svetlana
See also
In Spanish: NKVD para niños
