Who succeeded Yezhov as head of the NKVD?
Beria
Malenkov
Bulganin
Kirov
Answer
Lavrentiy Beria, previously head of the Georgian SSR, took over as head of the NKVD upon Nikolai Yezhov's dismissal. Beria's appointment marked a significant shift in Soviet security policies, as he implemented reforms that ended mass arbitrary arrests during the Great Purge. However, Beria's tenure would still see oppressive measures, including the deportation of ethnic groups during World War II.
The Shadow of the Iron Commissar: Unraveling the Enigma of Nikolai Yezhov
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