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Vladimir DekanozovOne of the heads of state security agencies
Country:
 Russia |
Content:
- Vladimir Dekanozov: A Career in Soviet Security
- Ascent in the Azerbaijan Cheka
- A Trusted Beria Ally
- Head of NKVD Counterintelligence and Intelligence
- Purge of the Army and Foreign Service
- Failure in Berlin and Later Appointments
- Final Years and Execution
Vladimir Dekanozov: A Career in Soviet Security
Early Life and CareerVladimir Georgiyevich Dekanozov was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, in June 1898. He studied medicine at Saratov and Baku Universities before joining the Red Army in 1918 and the Communist Party in 1920. Dekanozov's career in state security began in June 1921 when he became an authorized representative for the anti-banditry department of the Azerbaijani Cheka.
Ascent in the Azerbaijan Cheka
Working under Lavrentiy Beria, Dekanozov cultivated Beria's patronage and held various leadership positions in the Azerbaijan, Georgian, and Transcaucasian Chekas. In 1927, he served as an instructor for the Central Committee of the Georgian Communist Party, and from 1929 to 1931, he headed the Economic Department of the Georgian GPU.
A Trusted Beria Ally
Dekanozov was appointed Secretary of the Georgian Communist Party for Transportation and Supply in 1931. He later became Head of the Soviet Trade Department of the Georgian Communist Party and, in 1936, Commissar of the Food Industry in the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR). Dekanozov was a trusted ally of Beria, and in 1937, he became Chairman of the State Planning Committee and Deputy Chairman of the Council of Commissars of the Georgian SSR.
Head of NKVD Counterintelligence and Intelligence
Following Beria's appointment as People's Commissar of Internal Affairs of the USSR in 1938, Dekanozov was summoned to Moscow. On December 2, 1938, he was appointed Head of the 3rd (counterintelligence) and 5th (intelligence) Departments of the Main Directorate of State Security (GUGB) of the NKVD. He also became Deputy Head of GUGB and played a key role in purging the NKVD apparatus of Nikolai Yezhov's supporters.
Purge of the Army and Foreign Service
Dekanozov oversaw the purge of the army, which had already been weakened by arrests in 1937-38. He later left the NKVD and became Deputy Commissar at the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs of the USSR in 1939. As Germany became the new foreign policy target, Dekanozov was appointed Deputy Ambassador to Nazi Germany in November 1940.
Failure in Berlin and Later Appointments
Unable to assess Germany's aggressive intentions, Dekanozov remained in Berlin until the invasion of the USSR on June 22, 1941. Upon his return, he retained his position and was promoted to the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in 1943. Dekanozov was removed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1947 and appointed Deputy Head of the Main Administration of Soviet Property Abroad.
Final Years and Execution
Following Stalin's death, Dekanozov briefly served as Minister of Internal Affairs of the Georgian SSR in 1953. After Beria's fall, Dekanozov was arrested and sentenced to death on December 23, 1953, by the Special Judicial Tribunal of the Supreme Court of the USSR. He was executed by firing squad.
