# People's Commissariat for State Security

Chronology of Soviet security agencies :
| 1917–22 | Cheka of the Sovnarkom of the RSFSR (All-Russian Extraordinary Commission) |
| 1922–23 | GPU of the NKVD of the RSFSR (State Political Directorate) |
| 1923–34 | OGPU of the Sovnarkom of the USSR (Joint State Political Directorate) |
| 1934–41 1941–43 | NKVD of the USSR (People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs) GUGB of the NKVD of the USSR (Main Directorate of State Security) |
| 1941 1943–46 | NKGB of the USSR (People's Commissariat for State Security) |
| 1946–53 | MGB of the USSR (Ministry of State Security) |
| 1953–54 | MVD of the USSR (Ministry of Internal Affairs) |
| 1954–91 | KGB of the Council of Ministers of the USSR (Committee for State Security) |
| vte |
The People's Commissariat for State Security (Russian: Народный комиссариат государственной безопасности, romanized: Narodnyy komissariat gosudarstvennoy bezopasnosti) or NKGB, was the name of the Soviet secret police, intelligence and counter-intelligence force that existed from 3 February 1941 to 20 July 1941, and again from 1943 to 1946, before being renamed the Ministry for State Security (MGB).

## Separate administration

Changes in Soviet apparatus began in February 1941 with the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet decision. It started with Military Counterintelligence. On 3 February 1941, the 4th Department (Special Section, OO) of GUGB within the NKVD security service responsible for the Red Army military counter-intelligence, consisting of 12 Sections and one Investigation Unit, was separated from the GUGB NKVD. The official liquidation of the OO GUGB and GUGB as organized units within the NKVD was announced on 12 February 1941 by a joint order № 00151/003 of the NKVD and NKGB USSR. The rest of the GUGB was abolished and staff were moved to the newly created People's Commissariat for State Security (NKGB). Departments of the former GUGB were renamed Directorates. For example, the former Foreign Department (INO) became the Foreign Directorate (INU); political police represented by the Secret Political Department (SPO) became the Secret Political Directorate (SPU), and so on.

## NKGB tasking

Based on NKVD and NKGB directive number 782/B265M, from 1 March 1941, the NKGB tasks were:
* Conducting intelligence activities abroad;
* Battling espionage (on both fronts: counter and offensive);
* Battling sabotage and terrorist acts organized by foreign Special Services on USSR territory;
* The penetration, and liquidation, of anti-Soviet parties and counter-revolutionary organizations;
* Overseeing ideology in Soviet society;
* The protection of high party and government officials.

## February 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, a former Commissar 3rd rank of State Security, and two deputies, Bogdan Kobulov and Mikhail Gribov.
| People's Commissar of State Security Vsevolod Merkulov | People's Commissar of State Security Vsevolod Merkulov | | | | |
| | | | | | | First Deputy: Ivan Serov | First Deputy: Ivan Serov | First Deputy: Ivan Serov | First Deputy: Ivan Serov | First Deputy: Ivan Serov | First Deputy: Ivan Serov | | | | | | | Deputy: Bogdan Kobulov | Deputy: Bogdan Kobulov | Deputy: Bogdan Kobulov | Deputy: Bogdan Kobulov | Deputy: Bogdan Kobulov | Deputy: Bogdan Kobulov |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | NKGB Office: V. Golovanov | NKGB Office: V. Golovanov | NKGB Office: V. Golovanov | NKGB Office: V. Golovanov | NKGB Office: V. Golovanov | NKGB Office: V. Golovanov | Deputy: Mikhail Gribov | Deputy: Mikhail Gribov | Deputy: Mikhail Gribov | Deputy: Mikhail Gribov | Deputy: Mikhail Gribov | Deputy: Mikhail Gribov |
| First Directorate (Foreign Intelligence – INU) Pavel Fitin | First Directorate (Foreign Intelligence – INU) Pavel Fitin | First Directorate (Foreign Intelligence – INU) Pavel Fitin | First Directorate (Foreign Intelligence – INU) Pavel Fitin | First Directorate (Foreign Intelligence – INU) Pavel Fitin | First Directorate (Foreign Intelligence – INU) Pavel Fitin | | | | | | | Department One (Government Protection) Nikolai Vlasik | Department One (Government Protection) Nikolai Vlasik | Department One (Government Protection) Nikolai Vlasik | Department One (Government Protection) Nikolai Vlasik | Department One (Government Protection) Nikolai Vlasik | Department One (Government Protection) Nikolai Vlasik |
| Second Directorate (Counter-Intelligence – KRU) Pyotr Fedotov | Second Directorate (Counter-Intelligence – KRU) Pyotr Fedotov | Second Directorate (Counter-Intelligence – KRU) Pyotr Fedotov | Second Directorate (Counter-Intelligence – KRU) Pyotr Fedotov | Second Directorate (Counter-Intelligence – KRU) Pyotr Fedotov | Second Directorate (Counter-Intelligence – KRU) Pyotr Fedotov | | | | | | | Department Two (Statistics and Archives – USO) Leonid Bashtakov | Department Two (Statistics and Archives – USO) Leonid Bashtakov | Department Two (Statistics and Archives – USO) Leonid Bashtakov | Department Two (Statistics and Archives – USO) Leonid Bashtakov | Department Two (Statistics and Archives – USO) Leonid Bashtakov | Department Two (Statistics and Archives – USO) Leonid Bashtakov |
| Third Directorate (Secret Political – SPU) Solomon Milshtein | Third Directorate (Secret Political – SPU) Solomon Milshtein | Third Directorate (Secret Political – SPU) Solomon Milshtein | Third Directorate (Secret Political – SPU) Solomon Milshtein | Third Directorate (Secret Political – SPU) Solomon Milshtein | Third Directorate (Secret Political – SPU) Solomon Milshtein | | | | | | | Department Three (Operative) Dmitry Shadrin | Department Three (Operative) Dmitry Shadrin | Department Three (Operative) Dmitry Shadrin | Department Three (Operative) Dmitry Shadrin | Department Three (Operative) Dmitry Shadrin | Department Three (Operative) Dmitry Shadrin |
| Investigative Service Lev Vlodzimirskii | Investigative Service Lev Vlodzimirskii | Investigative Service Lev Vlodzimirskii | Investigative Service Lev Vlodzimirskii | Investigative Service Lev Vlodzimirskii | Investigative Service Lev Vlodzimirskii | | | | | | | Department Four (Technical and Operational) Evgeny Lapishin | Department Four (Technical and Operational) Evgeny Lapishin | Department Four (Technical and Operational) Evgeny Lapishin | Department Four (Technical and Operational) Evgeny Lapishin | Department Four (Technical and Operational) Evgeny Lapishin | Department Four (Technical and Operational) Evgeny Lapishin |
| Directorate of Kremlin Commander Nikolai Spyrydonov | Directorate of Kremlin Commander Nikolai Spyrydonov | Directorate of Kremlin Commander Nikolai Spyrydonov | Directorate of Kremlin Commander Nikolai Spyrydonov | Directorate of Kremlin Commander Nikolai Spyrydonov | Directorate of Kremlin Commander Nikolai Spyrydonov | | | | | | | Department Five (Codes and Ciphers) | Department Five (Codes and Ciphers) | Department Five (Codes and Ciphers) | Department Five (Codes and Ciphers) | Department Five (Codes and Ciphers) | Department Five (Codes and Ciphers) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Department of Staff Mikhail Gribov | Department of Staff Mikhail Gribov | Department of Staff Mikhail Gribov | Department of Staff Mikhail Gribov | Department of Staff Mikhail Gribov | Department of Staff Mikhail Gribov |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Department for Administration Economy and Finance (AChFO) | Department for Administration Economy and Finance (AChFO) | Department for Administration Economy and Finance (AChFO) | Department for Administration Economy and Finance (AChFO) | Department for Administration Economy and Finance (AChFO) | Department for Administration Economy and Finance (AChFO) |

## Changes 1941/1943

The Soviet security organizations were merged in July 1941, after the German invasion, with the NKGB Directorates returned to NKVD as separate units. During 1943 changes NKGB was created again as separate Commissariat. Please look at organization changes below)
These organizational changes were never explained. According to historian John Dziak they may have had something to do with the Soviet occupations of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, eastern Poland, part of Romania (Bessarabia and northern Bukovina). Also, the numbers of apprehensions, deportations, executions and establishments of Gulags had quickly grown, which required a reorganization of structures and a boost of manpower in the security administration. Other reasons Dziak states are: the shock caused by the German aggression and the fast progress of their army; and when the Soviet victory in Stalingrad had made prospects of the recovery of previous war losses more likely.

## 1943 organization

| | | | | | | People's Commissar of State Security and his deputies Vsevolod Merkulov | People's Commissar of State Security and his deputies Vsevolod Merkulov | People's Commissar of State Security and his deputies Vsevolod Merkulov | People's Commissar of State Security and his deputies Vsevolod Merkulov | People's Commissar of State Security and his deputies Vsevolod Merkulov | People's Commissar of State Security and his deputies Vsevolod Merkulov |
| | | | | | | NKGB Office: Avram Kossoy | NKGB Office: Avram Kossoy | NKGB Office: Avram Kossoy | NKGB Office: Avram Kossoy | NKGB Office: Avram Kossoy | NKGB Office: Avram Kossoy | | | | | | | | | | | |
| First Directorate (Foreign Intelligence – INU) Pavel Fitin | First Directorate (Foreign Intelligence – INU) Pavel Fitin | First Directorate (Foreign Intelligence – INU) Pavel Fitin | First Directorate (Foreign Intelligence – INU) Pavel Fitin | First Directorate (Foreign Intelligence – INU) Pavel Fitin | First Directorate (Foreign Intelligence – INU) Pavel Fitin | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sixth Directorate (Government Protection) Nikolai Vlasik | Sixth Directorate (Government Protection) Nikolai Vlasik | Sixth Directorate (Government Protection) Nikolai Vlasik | Sixth Directorate (Government Protection) Nikolai Vlasik | Sixth Directorate (Government Protection) Nikolai Vlasik | Sixth Directorate (Government Protection) Nikolai Vlasik |
| | | | | | | | | | | Second Directorate (Counter-Intelligence – KRU) Pyotr Fedotov | Second Directorate (Counter-Intelligence – KRU) Pyotr Fedotov | Second Directorate (Counter-Intelligence – KRU) Pyotr Fedotov | Second Directorate (Counter-Intelligence – KRU) Pyotr Fedotov | Second Directorate (Counter-Intelligence – KRU) Pyotr Fedotov | Second Directorate (Counter-Intelligence – KRU) Pyotr Fedotov | | | | | Directorate of Kremlin Commander Nikolai Spyrydonov | Directorate of Kremlin Commander Nikolai Spyrydonov | Directorate of Kremlin Commander Nikolai Spyrydonov | Directorate of Kremlin Commander Nikolai Spyrydonov | Directorate of Kremlin Commander Nikolai Spyrydonov | Directorate of Kremlin Commander Nikolai Spyrydonov |
| | | | | | | | | | | Third Directorate (Transport) Solomon Milshtein | Third Directorate (Transport) Solomon Milshtein | Third Directorate (Transport) Solomon Milshtein | Third Directorate (Transport) Solomon Milshtein | Third Directorate (Transport) Solomon Milshtein | Third Directorate (Transport) Solomon Milshtein | | | | | Investigative Service [[Lev Vlodzimirskii]] | Investigative Service [[Lev Vlodzimirskii]] | Investigative Service [[Lev Vlodzimirskii]] | Investigative Service [[Lev Vlodzimirskii]] | Investigative Service [[Lev Vlodzimirskii]] | Investigative Service [[Lev Vlodzimirskii]] |
| | | | | | | | | | | Fourth Directorate (Sabotage Behind Enemy Lines) Pavel Sudoplatov | Fourth Directorate (Sabotage Behind Enemy Lines) Pavel Sudoplatov | Fourth Directorate (Sabotage Behind Enemy Lines) Pavel Sudoplatov | Fourth Directorate (Sabotage Behind Enemy Lines) Pavel Sudoplatov | Fourth Directorate (Sabotage Behind Enemy Lines) Pavel Sudoplatov | Fourth Directorate (Sabotage Behind Enemy Lines) Pavel Sudoplatov | | | | | Department for Administration Economy and Finance (AChFO) | Department for Administration Economy and Finance (AChFO) | Department for Administration Economy and Finance (AChFO) | Department for Administration Economy and Finance (AChFO) | Department for Administration Economy and Finance (AChFO) | Department for Administration Economy and Finance (AChFO) |
| | | | | | | | | | | Fifth Department (Codes and Ciphers) Ivan Shevyelev | Fifth Department (Codes and Ciphers) Ivan Shevyelev | Fifth Department (Codes and Ciphers) Ivan Shevyelev | Fifth Department (Codes and Ciphers) Ivan Shevyelev | Fifth Department (Codes and Ciphers) Ivan Shevyelev | Fifth Department (Codes and Ciphers) Ivan Shevyelev | | | | | Department of Staff | Department of Staff | Department of Staff | Department of Staff | Department of Staff | Department of Staff |
| Department A (Statistics and Archive) Arkady Gercovsky | Department A (Statistics and Archive) Arkady Gercovsky | Department A (Statistics and Archive) Arkady Gercovsky | Department A (Statistics and Archive) Arkady Gercovsky | Department A (Statistics and Archive) Arkady Gercovsky | Department A (Statistics and Archive) Arkady Gercovsky | Department B (Technical and Operational) Evgeny Lapishin | Department B (Technical and Operational) Evgeny Lapishin | Department B (Technical and Operational) Evgeny Lapishin | Department B (Technical and Operational) Evgeny Lapishin | Department B (Technical and Operational) Evgeny Lapishin | Department B (Technical and Operational) Evgeny Lapishin | | | Department W (Censure) | Department W (Censure) | Department W (Censure) | Department W (Censure) | Department W (Censure) | Department W (Censure) |

## From commissariats to ministries

In 1946, other changes followed. Existing People's Commissariats were renamed "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.