Cheka
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The All-Russian Extraordinary Commission, abbreviated as VChK, and commonly known as the Cheka, was the first Soviet secret police organization. It was established on 20 December 1917 by the Council o
Chekists frequently dressed in black leather, allegedly following the example of Yakov Sverdlov (pictured here in 1918).
Members of the presidium of VCheKa (left to right) Yakov Peters, Józef Unszlicht, Abram Belenky (standing), Felix Dzerzhinsky, Vyacheslav Menzhinsky, 1921
Smolny, the seat of the Soviet government in 1917 (pictured in 2004)
Grigory Petrovsky
Jēkabs Peterss
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Jēkabs Peterss was a Latvian Communist revolutionary and politician who played a part in the establishment of the Soviet Union. Together with Felix Dzerzhinsky, he was one of the founders and chiefs o
Cheka
…Iron Felix) was appointed as Director and invited the participation of the following individuals: V. K. Averin, I. K. Ksenofontov, S. K. Ordzhonikidze, Ya. Kh. Peters, K. A. Peterson, V. A. Trifonov, I. S. Unshlikht, V. N. Vasilevsky, V. N. Yakovleva, V. V. Yakovlev, D. G. Yevseyev, N. A. Zhydelev. On December 7…
Yakov Peters 2
Jēkabs Peterss with his English wife and daughter taken ca October 1918
Peters with Felix Dzerzhinsky
Jēkabs Peterss after arrest by NKVD, 1937