The Execution Of Nikolai Yezhov - Stalin's BRUTAL Beast

Summary

This video script delves into the life and downfall of Nikolai Yezhov, the ruthless head of Stalin's NKVD during the Soviet Union's Great Purge. Responsible for orchestrating mass executions and imprisonments, Yezhov rose through the ranks but was ultimately purged himself. His execution, carried out in secrecy, mirrors the thousands he oversaw, illustrating the brutal reality of Stalin's regime and the tragic irony of Yezhov's own demise.

Takeaways

• 😐 Joseph Stalin's leadership was marked by widespread executions and fear, with the NKVD executing or imprisoning those suspected of dissent.
• 🗑️ The term 'purge' is closely associated with Stalin, particularly during The Great Purge, where between 700,000 to 1 million people were executed or sent to Gulags.
• 🔍 Stalin was known to turn against even his closest allies, as seen with Nikolai Yezhov, who was in charge of the NKVD and the Great Purge, but was later executed himself.
• 👶 Born in 1895, Yezhov came from a relatively affluent peasant family and joined the Bolsheviks before the October Revolution, rising through the ranks of the military and local politics.
• 📊 Yezhov's rise in the Communist Party included various roles, culminating in his election to the central committee and becoming a secretary.
• 🔫 After the murder of Sergei Kirov in 1934, Stalin used the incident to initiate purges, appointing Yezhov as the Head of the NKVD to carry out these purges.
• 🗡️ Yezhov's tenure as NKVD head involved orchestrating mass killings, arrests, and torture, including the show trial and execution of Genrikh Yagoda, the former NKVD head.
• 🚨 The Great Purge of 1937-1938 saw widespread fear as the NKVD targeted anyone accused of dissent, with many politicians and military officers imprisoned or executed.
• 🏭 Yezhov was responsible for the dramatic increase in the population of gulags, where many died due to starvation, exhaustion, and poor treatment.
• 💔 Yezhov's justification for the purges included the acceptance of innocent victims for the 'greater good' of the Soviet Union.
• 🗑️ Yezhov's downfall came as he was seen as too powerful and feared, leading to his purge and execution by Stalin and his favored successor, Lavrentiy Beria.

Q & A

Who was Joseph Stalin and what was his role in the Soviet Union?

Joseph Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953. He is known for his authoritarian rule and the implementation of policies that led to widespread repression and the Great Purge, during which many people were executed or sent to concentration camps.

What does the term 'purge' signify in the context of the Soviet Union?

In the context of the Soviet Union, 'purge' refers to the campaigns of political repression carried out by the government, most notably under Stalin, to eliminate dissent and consolidate power. This often involved mass executions and imprisonments.

What was the Great Purge and how many people were affected by it?

The Great Purge was a campaign of political repression in the Soviet Union led by Joseph Stalin during the 1930s. It is estimated that between 700,000 and 1 million people suspected of dissenting against Stalin were executed or sent to Gulags, the Soviet concentration camps.

Who was Nikolai Yezhov and what was his role in the Great Purge?

Nikolai Yezhov was a devoted communist who rose through the ranks to become the Head of the NKVD, the Soviet Secret Police, during the Great Purge. He organized mass killings, arrests, and tortures, but was later purged and executed by Stalin himself.

What was the significance of Nikolai Yezhov's background and early life?

Nikolai Yezhov was born into a relatively affluent Russian peasant family and worked as an assistant to a tailor before joining the Imperial Russian Army. He joined the Bolsheviks in 1917 and fought in the Russian Civil War, eventually becoming involved in local and regional politics within the Communist Party.

How did Yezhov's career progress within the Communist Party before becoming the Head of the NKVD?

Yezhov's career in the Communist Party included various roles such as a secretary, involvement in local committees, and working in the accountancy department. He became skilled in his roles, eventually becoming the Head of Department and Deputy People’s Commissar of Agriculture before his election to the central committee.

What was the role of Sergei Kirov's murder in the initiation of the Great Purge?

The murder of Sergei Kirov, the Bolshevik Chief of Leningrad, was used by Stalin as a pretext to initiate the Great Purge. Stalin used this incident to justify purges and to eliminate anyone who dared to question his authority.

What were the consequences of Yezhov's actions as the Head of the NKVD for the Soviet population?

As the Head of the NKVD, Yezhov led the execution of mass purges, resulting in the arrest of over 1 million people, with around 700,000 being executed. Many were sent to Gulags, where an additional 140,000 died from starvation, exhaustion, and poor treatment.

How did Yezhov's own actions lead to his downfall and execution?

Yezhov's ruthless actions and the fear he instilled made him a target for Stalin once his usefulness was deemed to have ended. He was replaced by Lavrentiy Beria, who orchestrated Yezhov's arrest, torture, and eventual execution.

What is the significance of Yezhov being referred to as 'The vanishing Commissar'?

Yezhov is referred to as 'The vanishing Commissar' because after his execution, Stalin ordered that he be removed from all press photographs, effectively erasing him from the historical record of the period.

What was the impact of Yezhov's execution on the perception of the NKVD and Stalin's regime?

Yezhov's execution demonstrated the extent of Stalin's paranoia and willingness to eliminate even his closest allies. It also showed the brutality and arbitrariness of the NKVD, contributing to the fear and instability within the Soviet Union.