People's Commissariat for State Security (Soviet Union)

The People's Commissariat for State Security ("Народный комиссариат государственной безопасности") or NKGB - was the name of the Soviet secret police, intelligence and counter-intelligence force that existed from February 3, 1941 to July 20 1941, and again from 1943 to 1946, and then renamed into the Ministry for State Security, or MGB.

Separate administration

On February 3 1941, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, separated the large Main Directorate of State Security (or GUGB) section from the People's Commisariat for Internal Affairs (or NKVD) and transformed it to separate administration in order to improve functions of Soviet security organs. The new administration was called "People's Commissariat for State Security " (or NKB).

NKGB tasks

Based on NKVD and NKGB directive number "782/B265M" from March 1 1941, the NKGB tasks were:

*Conduct of intelligence work abroad.

*Battle with espionage (on both front, counter and offencive), sabotage and terrorist acts organized by foreign Special Services on USSR territory.

*Penetration and liquidation of anti-Soviet party’s and counter-revolutionary organizations.

*Oversight on ideology of Soviet society

*Protection of high party and government officials

1941 organization

The first head of NKGB was Vsevolod Nikolayevich Merkulov who became "People's Commissar of State Security". His first deputy was Ivan Serov, then Commissar 3rd rank of State Security, and two deputies, Bogdan Kobulov and Mikhail Gribov.

Changes 1941/1943

The Soviet security organization was merged during July 1941, after Axis invasion with the NKGB returned to NKVD as GUGB. During 1943, Main Directorate of State Security (or GUGB), was demerged to separate administration NKGB.
The causes behind these reorganizations have not been fully explained.

These particular organizational changes were never explained to the end, perhaps they had something to do with Soviet occupation of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, eastern Poland, part of Romania (Bessarabia and northern Bukovina), and its nations. Suddenly the number of apprehensions, deportations, executions and Gulags has grown, that required reorganization of structures and boost of man power in security administration.
(...) Shock caused after German aggression and fast progress of their army, has driven Soviet government to organize security organs under one command.
(...) Soviet victory in Stalingrad have made prospect of recovery war losses, that was the reason for secondary separation of Soviet security forces.

[cite book |last=Dziak|first=John |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Chekisty : a history of the KGB|year=1988|publisher=Lexington Books|location= |isbn=066910258X ]

1943 organization

From commissariats to ministries

In 1946, other changes followed. Existing People's Commissariats were renamed as "ministries." People's Commisariat for Internal Affairs (or NKVD) was renamed Ministry of Internal Affairs ("Ministerstvo Vnutrennikh Del") or MVD, and the People's Commissariat for State Security was renamed Ministry for State Security ("Ministerstvo Gosudarstvennoi Bezopasnosti") or MGB.

References

*Piotr Kołakowski - "NKWD i GRU na ziemiach Polskich 1939-1945" - (Kulisy wywiadu i kontrwywiadu) - Dom wydawniczy Bellona Warszawa 2002 - (NKVD and GRU on Polish soil 1939-1945 [Intelligence counter-intelligence series] Warsaw, 2002)

*Norman Polmar, Thomas B Allen - Spy Book: "The Encyclopedia of Espionage" 1997

ee also

*Chronology of Soviet secret police agencies