BERZIN Yan Karlovich

Yan Karlovich Berzin (real name - Peteris Yanovich Kyuzis) (13.11.1889 - 29.07.1938), the party leader, one of the founders of the Gulag, the Army Commissar of rank 2 (15.6.1937). The son of a laborer. In 1905 joined RSDLP. participated in the revolution of 1905-07. In 1907, for the murder of a policeman was sentenced to 8 years in prison, but released in 1909. In 1911, again arrested and deported to Irkutsk, where escaped. With the start of 1 st World War II was drafted into the army, 140 deserted and joined the factory (Petrograd). In 1917 members of the Vyborg and Petrograd Committees RSDLP (b). Since December. 1917 worked in the NKVD RSFSR, led by personal protection VI. Lenin and the government, formed in the overwhelming majority of Latvians and Estonians. In January-May 1919 Deputy. Commissar of Internal Affairs of Soviet Latvia. In 1919-20 headed the special section of 15 th Army. In December. 1920 transferred to serve in the Red Army Intelligence, the beginning. Division (1920-21), Deputy. early. administration (1921-24). In March, 1924 - April. Early 1935. 4-th (intelligence) control headquarters of the Red Army actually created a system of military intelligence of the USSR, among the recruits of P. Sorge and L. Trepper - best Soviet spies. At the same time in 1932 became the first early. of concentration camps in the Far East - Dalstroi Gulag. The creator of the system of concentration camps and the use of slave labor of prisoners. Since April. 1935 to June 1936 Deputy. separate Commander of the Far Eastern Army. In 1936 was appointed chief military adviser to the Republican army in Spain. In June 1937 he returned to the Soviet Union and once again took up the post early. Intelligence. 27/11/1938 arrested and 29/07/1938 sentenced to death. Shot. In 1956, rehabilitated. Later Berzin - creator of the concentration camp system - put in Magadan monument, which was demolished in 1991.