Lavrentiy Beriya (b. 1899)

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Biography

Lavrentiy Pavlovich Beria was a Soviet politician and one of the longest-serving and most influential of Joseph Stalin's secret police chiefs, serving as head of the NKVD from 1938 to 1945, during the country's involvement in the Second World War. Beria was also a prolific sexual predator who serially raped scores of girls and young women, and murdered some of his victims.

Timeline

The story of Lavrentiy Beriya, told in moments.

1938 Event

Appointed head of the NKVD, the Soviet secret police. He replaced Nikolai Yezhov, whom he then had arrested and shot. Beria ran the vast Gulag system and mobilized millions of forced laborers for wartime production.

Did replacing Yezhov and then having him shot teach others a lesson? How do you run a system of millions of forced laborers? Was the Gulag your kingdom?

1945 Event

Put in charge of the Soviet atomic bomb project. He recruited scientists, built secret cities, and used intelligence from spies inside the Manhattan Project. The first Soviet bomb was tested in 1949.

Was building secret cities for the atomic project exciting? Did spy intelligence feel like cheating at science? Was the 1949 Soviet bomb your proudest moment?

1953 Life

After Stalin's death, Beria moved quickly to consolidate power. He proposed liberal reforms, including relaxing controls on Soviet satellite states. The other Politburo members grew terrified of him.

Were the liberal reforms after Stalin's death sincere or strategic? Did the other Politburo members' fear satisfy you? Was consolidating power a reflex?

1953 Death

Executed by firing squad in Moscow after a secret trial. Arrested at gunpoint during a Politburo meeting in June. Charged with treason, terrorism, and multiple counts of rape. He reportedly begged for his life on his knees.

Did you really beg for your life at the Politburo meeting? Were the rape charges a revelation to anyone? Was 55 minutes of trial enough for a lifetime of crimes?

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