From Terror to political policing: Dzerzhinskii’s reforms and the Cheka-GPU transition
The article examines Felix Dzerzhinskii’s reforms of the Soviet security services at the end of the Civil Wars. Providing an unprecedented first-hand perspective on the management of early Soviet repression, it discusses the evolution of post-revolutionary violence in terms of its nature, framework,...
Enregistré dans:
| Dans: | URI:https://journals.openedition.org/chreecc, |
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| Auteur principal: | |
| Format: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| Langue: | Anglais |
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Cahiers d’histoire russe, est-européenne, caucasienne et centrasiatique
2026
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| Accès en ligne: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
| Résumé: | The article examines Felix Dzerzhinskii’s reforms of the Soviet security services at the end of the Civil Wars. Providing an unprecedented first-hand perspective on the management of early Soviet repression, it discusses the evolution of post-revolutionary violence in terms of its nature, framework, and organisation. Following the Bolsheviks’ victory over their opponents on the battlefield, dissent within the Party arose over the use of state violence and chekist tactics, casting doubt on the organisation’s legitimacy. Additionally, the chekists’ brutal methods and the decentralisation of the Cheka escalated revolutionary violence to a critical point, causing social unrest. Aware of these challenges, Felix Dzerzhinskii proactively initiated reforms, seeking to reaffirm central control and transforming the Cheka from a revolutionary combat organisation with exceptional powers into a modern political police force that adhered to contemporary administrative standards. Consequently, the article concentrates on the internal organisation of the Cheka and demonstrates how its methods and administrative procedures evolved during the NEP. |
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