Nikolai Yezhov

Definition

Nikolai Yezhov was a prominent Soviet politician and chief of the NKVD (People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs) during the height of the Great Purge from 1936 to 1938. He is infamously known for his role in intensifying the Reign of Terror under Joseph Stalin, overseeing mass arrests, executions, and the systematic elimination of perceived enemies of the state, including Party members, military leaders, and ordinary citizens.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Yezhov was appointed head of the NKVD in 1936 and became a key figure in implementing Stalin's policies during the Great Purge.
2. He was responsible for the execution and imprisonment of hundreds of thousands of individuals deemed enemies of the state, including many high-ranking Communist Party officials.
3. Yezhov's tenure as NKVD chief was marked by extreme brutality, and he often personally oversaw interrogations and executions.
4. The term 'Yezhovshchina' emerged to describe this period of terror, named after him to highlight the severity of the purges.
5. In 1938, Yezhov himself fell out of favor with Stalin and was arrested, tried, and executed, symbolizing the violent cycle of purges that characterized this era.

Review Questions

• How did Nikolai Yezhov's leadership influence the intensity of the Great Purge?
  • Nikolai Yezhov's leadership significantly intensified the Great Purge as he adopted a more aggressive approach to eliminating perceived threats to Stalin's regime. Under his direction, the NKVD ramped up arrests and executions, targeting not only political rivals but also ordinary citizens who were suspected of disloyalty. Yezhov’s willingness to implement brutal tactics helped facilitate a climate of fear that pervaded Soviet society during this time.
• Discuss the implications of Yezhov’s actions on the Communist Party and Soviet society during his time as NKVD chief.
  • Yezhov's actions had profound implications for both the Communist Party and Soviet society. The mass purges led to the execution or imprisonment of many influential Party members, disrupting leadership structures and instilling paranoia among remaining officials. This created an environment where loyalty to Stalin was paramount, leading to a culture of fear that stifled dissent and weakened the overall governance of the party as many capable leaders were lost due to purges.
• Evaluate how Yezhov's rise and fall reflect broader themes of power dynamics within Stalin's regime during the Great Purge.
  • Yezhov's rise and eventual fall epitomize the volatile power dynamics within Stalin's regime. His initial ascent was fueled by his fervent loyalty to Stalin and his effective execution of purge policies; however, his later downfall illustrates how quickly favor could shift within Stalin’s inner circle. The cycle of purging not only targeted enemies outside but also devoured loyalists like Yezhov himself, reflecting a regime defined by fear, mistrust, and relentless consolidation of power.

Related terms

Great Purge: A campaign of political repression in the Soviet Union from 1936 to 1938, characterized by widespread arrests, show trials, and executions aimed at eliminating dissent and consolidating Stalin's power.

NKVD: The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs, a law enforcement agency in the Soviet Union responsible for state security, police operations, and overseeing the Great Purge.

Show Trials: Public trials in the Soviet Union during the Great Purge that were characterized by forced confessions and predetermined verdicts, used to eliminate political rivals and instill fear.