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Nikolay Nikolaev-ZhuridOne of the heads of state security agencies
Country:
 Russia |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Military and Revolutionary Service
- Career in the Security Services
- Rise to Power
- Key Role in Great Purge
- Downfall and Execution
Early Life and Education
Nikolaev-Zhukrid was born in Konotop, Chernigov Governorate, in February 1897. His father was a homeowner. Nikolaev-Zhukrid attended the law faculty of Kyiv's Saint Vladimir University, but never graduated. In 1917, he completed his education at the Odessa School of Ensigns.
Military and Revolutionary Service
Before the Russian Revolution, Nikolaev-Zhukrid worked as a clerk on the railroad. In January 1917, he was conscripted into the army and served as an ensign in a reserve regiment in Moscow.
In December 1917, Nikolaev-Zhukrid was demobilized. In February 1918, he joined the Red Army. From March 1918, he worked in intelligence for the Russian Civil War's Field Staff Registration Office and later for the Kyiv Military Commissariat.
Career in the Security Services
In June 1919, Nikolaev-Zhukrid joined the Cheka (All-Russian Extraordinary Commission), where he served in the Special Departments of the 12th Army and the Kyiv Military District.
In January 1920, Nikolaev-Zhukrid became a member of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks, RKP(b)). However, he was expelled the following year as an "intellectual and alien element."
From 1920 onwards, Nikolaev-Zhukrid worked for the Cheka in Ukraine. In 1922, he became head of the counterintelligence department and deputy head of the foreign department of the GPU (State Political Directorate) bureau in Right-Bank Ukraine.
Rise to Power
From 1923 to 1930, Nikolaev-Zhukrid headed the counterintelligence department of the GPU's bureau in the North Caucasus. In 1928, he rejoined the Communist Party.
In 1930, Nikolaev-Zhukrid became assistant head of the counterintelligence department of the OGPU (Unified State Political Directorate).
Key Role in Great Purge
From 1932 to 1934, Nikolaev-Zhukrid held leading positions in the Special Department of the OGPU. From 1934 to 1935, he served as deputy head and then head of the NKVD (People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs) in the Azov-Black Sea region.
In 1935, Nikolaev-Zhukrid was transferred to Leningrad as deputy head of the NKVD. He played an active role in the repression campaign following the assassination of Sergey Kirov.
In 1936, Nikolaev-Zhukrid became head of the Operations Department of the NKVD. He was a close associate of Nikolai Yezhov, the head of the NKVD.
In 1937, he became head of the Special Department of the NKVD. Nikolaev-Zhukrid was one of the main organizers of the mass terror against the Red Army's high command.
Downfall and Execution
In 1938, Nikolaev-Zhukrid became head of the Secret Intelligence Department of the NKVD. Yezhov's power had waned by this time, and most of the NKVD's operations were controlled by Lavrenty Beria, who began arresting Yezhov's allies.
On October 25, 1939, Nikolaev-Zhukrid was arrested. On February 4, 1940, he was sentenced to death and executed.
