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Marxism
The NKVD, or People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs, served as the Soviet Union’s primary government agency for internal security, law enforcement, and secret police functions from 1934 to 1946. The NKVD played a central role in enforcing Stalin’s policies, including widespread repression, surveillance, political purges, and the management of the Gulag.
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NKVD Term Timeline in The Gulag Archipelago
The timeline below shows where the term NKVD appears in The Gulag Archipelago. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1, Chapter 1: The Arrest
NKVD agents used various methods to arrest people. Some arrests occurred in broad daylight, disguised as...
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Part 1, Chapter 4: The Bluecaps
...were worn by all members of the Soviet state police apparatus, also known as the NKVD), they commanded authority over generals, directors, and party officials. Solzhenitsyn discusses the intoxicating effect of...
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Part 3, Chapter 4: The Archipelago Hardens
...institutions. As a result, the Archipelago tightened its iron grip, restricting access to all but NKVD personnel and creating an environment of absolute control. This was a time when prisoners faced...
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...halted releases, and some prisoners were sent back to camps even after being freed. The NKVD exploited wartime conditions to extend sentences and increase punishments, while the Gulag metastasized even further....
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