N.I. Yezhov: Appointment as Head of the NKVD

Copyright © 1998 by Hugo S. Cunningham
first posted 980217
minor change 001229

Russkij tekst
Original Russian text

From "Pravda," 27 September 1936, p. 1.

On the relief of Comrade A. I. RYKOV1 from duties
as People's Commissar of Communications of the USSR

DECREE OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE OF THE USSR

The Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR decrees:

Comrade Aleksei Ivanovich Rykov is relieved from duties as People's Commissar of Communications of the USSR.

Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR
G. PETROVSKIJ.

Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR
I. AKULOV.

Moscow, the Kremlin. 26 September 1936.

On the appointment of Comrade G. G. YAGODA2 as People's Commissar of Communications
of the USSR

DECREE OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE OF THE USSR

The Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR decrees:

Comrade Genrikh Grigorievich Yagoda is appointed People's Commissar of Communications of the USSR, and relieved from the duties of People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR.

Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR
G. PETROVSKIJ.

Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR
I. AKULOV.

Moscow, the Kremlin. 26 September 1936.

On the appointment of Comrade N. I. YEZHOV as People's Commissar
of Internal Affairs of the USSR

DECREE OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE OF THE USSR

The Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR decrees:

Comrade Nikolai Ivanovich Yezhov is appointed People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR.

Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR
G. PETROVSKIJ.

Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR
I. AKULOV.

Moscow, the Kremlin. 26 September 1936.

[biography]b0

Yezhov, Nikolai Ivanovich -- secretary of the Central Committee of the All-union Communist Party (of Bolsheviks)b1 and chairman of the Party Control Commission of the CCb2 of the ACP(B). Born in 1895 in the city of Leningrad. From age 14 was a worker in Leningrad factories. Member of the ACP(B) from March 1917. Took an active part in the October Revolution and the Civil War. Until 1921 was in the ranks of the Red Army; was military commissar in various Red Army units. From 1922, was in responsible leading Party work in locations: secretary of the Semipalatinsk provincial committee, secretary of the Kazakh Regional Committee, etc. From 1927 was in responsible work in the CC of the ACP(B). In 1929-30, was deputy People's Commissar of Agriculture of the USSR. In 1930-34, headed the Assignment Division and Cadre Division of the CC of the ACP(B). At the 17th Congress of the Communist Party, was elected member of the CC of the ACP(B) and member of the Party Control Commission under the CC of the ACP(B). At the same time, member of the Orgburo of the CC of the ACP(B); deputy chairman of the Party Control Commission and head of the Industrial Division of the CC of the ACP(B). Member of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR and of the ACEC of the RSFSRb3.

[End of reprint from "Pravda"]

Notes

Note 1-- A. I. Rykov--
Rykov, Aleksei Ivanovich (1881-1938). Political ally of Nikolai Bukharin. Quietly opposed Collectivization in 1929-30, publicly repented, and apparently was forgiven. Arrested in 1937 and shot (with Bukharin) after show trial in March 1938.
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Note 2-- G. G. Yagoda--
Yagoda, Genrikh Grigorievich (1891-1938). Deputy chairman of GPU (NKVD) from 1924. Head of NKVD 1934-36. Implicated in many of Stalin's crimes, he had outlived his usefulness. The "Commissar of Communications" appointment was a short stop on the way to arrest, the same show trial as Bukharin's, and execution.
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Note b0-- [biography]--
Beyond this dry summary, very little personal information about N.I. Yezhov was released during the Stalin years.
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Note b1-- All-Union Communist Party (of Bolsheviks) [ACP(B)]--
Official title of the ruling Communist Party until 1952, when renamed "Communist Party of the Soviet Union."
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Note b2-- CC--
Central Committee
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Note b3-- ACEC of the RSFSR--
All-Russian Central Executive Committee of the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic
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