Vsevolod Merkulov
Vsevolod Nikolayevich (Boris) Merkulov (27 November [O.S. 25 October] 1895 – 23 December 1953) was the head of the secret servce from February to July 1941, and again from April 1943 to March 1946. He was a leading member of what was later derisively described as the "Beria gang". He was one of the main people responsible for stalinist cleansings and the Katyn massacre. After the second world war, he also was a minister. After Stalin's death, there was a struggel for power, and he was shot.
Vsevolod Merkulov | |
|---|---|
Всеволод Меркулов | |
 Merkulov in 1945 | |
| Minister of State Control | |
| In office 27 October 1950 – 22 May 1953 | |
| Premier | Joseph Stalin Georgy Malenkov |
| Preceded by | Lev Mekhlis |
| Succeeded by | Alexander Paveliev |
| Minister of State Security | |
| In office 22 March 1945 – 7 May 1945 | |
| Premier | Joseph Stalin |
| Preceded by | Himself (as People's Commissar of State Security) |
| Succeeded by | Viktor Abakumov |
| First Deputy People's Commissar for Internal Affairs | |
| In office September 1938 – March 1946 | |
| Preceded by | Mikhail Frinovsky |
| Succeeded by | position dissolved |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 November 1895 Zagatala, Tiflis Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | 23 December 1953 (aged 58) Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Citizenship | Soviet |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Political party | Communist Party of the Soviet Union |
| Alma mater | Saint Petersburg University |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Army General |