Beria, Lavrenty Pavlovitch. (1899-1953) Head of the Soviet Secret Police under Stalin. Beria was notorious for his ruthless ability to carry out Stalin's orders -- torturing and killing people and falsifying evidence. A skilled plotter fueled by fierce ambition, he attempted to seize power when Stalin died, but was arrested, tried for treason, and quickly executed.
Typed Document Signed. Three pages, Legal Folio, Moscow, February [?] 4, 1940. To Defense Minister Kliment Voroshilov (1881-1968), who has initialed the document on the first page. Chilling war-date document from the Head of Stalin's secret police to the Head of the Red Army, in which Beria informs the Soviet Defense Minister about a number of urgent particulars concerning the ruinous state of the Red Army. This report, collected through under cover NKVD sources, is classified as "Absolute Secret" in red lettering which is printed at the top of the page. Fine. Docketed on the first page, with some words underscored in blue pencil, presumably by Voroshilov, the document's recipient. Hole punches at left margin, not affecting text.
Estimated Value $400-600.
