What is the GPU (OGPU): decryption, functions. Than the VChK differs from the GPU

February 6, 1922, the All-Russia Central Executive Committee of the CPSU (B.) Adopted a decision on the establishment of the State Political Administration. What is the GPU? What did not the Bolsheviks like about the previous punitive-controlling body - the Cheka? We will try to answer in this article.

Reorganization of the Cheka

Before answering the question, what is the GPU, it is necessary to understand why in 1922 the members of the party stopped organizing the Cheka (All-Russia Extraordinary Commission).

The Cheka was created almost immediately after the seizure of power by the Bolsheviks. The Communists themselves called this event a revolution, and in Soviet historiography it was called the "Great October Socialist Revolution." Let's remind: in February 1917 the Great bourgeois revolution has already passed. The emperor was overthrown, the power was to pass to a democratic government - the Constituent Assembly. However, October 25, Lenin and his comrades-in-arms carried out an armed seizure of power.

Naturally, the revolutionary forces did not support such an adventurous escapade. Oppositionists began to be called "checks", i.e. Supporters of the counter-revolution. Later, this term began to vest everyone who somehow disagreed with the actions of the Bolsheviks. It was precisely for the struggle against "control" that the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission was created in December 1917. He was headed by F.E. Dzerzhinsky, nicknamed "iron Felix" for his hard character and hard temper.

Why did the Cheka cease to organize the Bolsheviks?

The Cheka is a punitive body whose work was directed against supporters of the counter-revolution. "Control" could declare any citizen, who at least somehow showed discontent with the current authorities. To understand what the GPU is and how it differed from the Cheka, let us list the powers of the punitive organization. The Chekists on the ground had unlimited power. Their competence included:

• Search at any time of the day and night without explanation.
• The arrest and interrogation of any suspicious, in the opinion of the Chekists, a citizen.
• Expropriation of property from "kulaks" and "counter" without trial and investigation. What in practice led to total robbery.
• Detention and execution without trial and investigation.

No one controlled the Chekists. They considered themselves to be "special", having the right to any action in the "interests of the revolution" and against "fighting against the control." In the course of the "Red Terror" thousands of ordinary citizens were taken to execution without trial and investigation. The Chekists themselves did not even see the accused at times. The shootings were carried out after drawing up certain lists. Often the cause of reprisal was the name, appearance, occupation, etc. The Bolsheviks won the civil war, so they considered the repressive measures justified. Then there were events that completely changed the minds of the Bolsheviks: peasants and soldiers went to war. The most famous of them is the Tambov uprising. Against the rebels used chemical weapons, children and wives of partisans sent to camps, forcing fathers and husbands to surrender. But the uprising in Kronstadt was truly unexpected. In fact, the power came against the Bolsheviks, which brought them to power. After that it became clear: this can not continue.

GPU: transcript

The GPU stands for General Political Administration. The reorganization of the Cheka took place on February 6, 1922. After the creation of the USSR, in November 1923 the OGPU - United State Political Administration was formed. The united structure included the GPU of the NKVD of the RSFSR (the main political department of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic), as well as all former organizations of the Cheka and the GPU of the remaining republics. In fact, all disparate punitive agencies were included in a single and understandable management system. So, what is the GPU (decryption), we have highlighted. Let us list the internal changes that followed the creation of this organization.

Limitation of Chekist arbitrariness

Reform significantly reduced the arbitrariness of wrestlers from the "control". Total arbitrariness came to an end. Of course, the GPU's employees also bent the stick on the ground, but this was already a violation of the law, for which punishment was intended. Even the top leaders of the Chekists, Yagoda and Yezhov, were shot for arbitrariness and numerous excesses.

After the reform, the General Political Administration turned into a law enforcement organization, not a punitive one. In its competence was also the fight against enemies and spies, the protection of borders, control over the work of the militia, etc. However, now all arrests and executions were ordered by the courts, and not by distraught Chekists. In addition, there was a significant reduction in staff in the field, and the work of employees was controlled by the prosecutor's office.

In fact, there was a drop in security officers: no one controlled them before the reform, they could repair any arbitrariness "in the interests of the revolution", and the body itself submitted directly to the Council of People's Commissars (Council of People's Commissars). The Cheka was above the NKVD. After the reform, the Chekists became not a "special" unit, but militiamen, since the OGPU became one of the NKVD units. A prosecutor's office was created to control the work of the new department.

Elimination of

So, what is GP, we found out. Let's say a little about further reorganizations.

In 1934 the OGPU was completely liquidated as an organization. It completely merged with the NKVD. From 1934 to 1936 the organization was headed by G.G. Yagoda, from 1936 to 1938 - N.I. Yezhov. And since 1938 - L.P. Beria. All of them were later shot.

In 1941, the NKVD split into the NKVD and NKGB (People's Commissariat of State Security). NKGB and became the successor to the Cheka-GPU-OGPU.

In 1946 the NKGB was reorganized into the MGB (Ministry of State Security). After the coming to power of NS. Khrushchev MGB turns into KBG (Cabinet of State Security) in 1954. It existed until the collapse of the Union. Today, the OGPU functions are performed by four agencies at once: the GRU (Main Intelligence Agency), the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Investigative Committee, the National Guard.

However, the successors of the "Chekists" are considered to be only officers of the FSB.