Beria, Lavrenty, 1899-1954

Beria was head of the Soviet intelligence, NKVD during World War II. He did not have a particularly high standing within the Communist Party organization but STALIN appointed him member of the GKO and he took part in the day-to-day running of the war. Through his intelligence network he often gave Stalin more up-to- date information on activities on the Front than Front Commanders were able to. He was also in charge of partisan activities behind German lines and his units used terror tactics to make the civilian population undertake anti-German action. His NKVD men, also ran the Prisoner of War camps. Beria was also responsible for the dissemination of propaganda.

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