What Does KGB Stand For?

The KGB is one of the most notorious secret police forces in history, and is often associated with authoritarianism, oppression, and totalitarianism across Russia. The KGB, or Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti, translates to “Committee for State Security” in English and is closely associated with the Soviet Union of the late twentieth century. Though the KGB was disbanded in the late 1990s, its presence is still impossibly strong and its influence still felt in much of the world.

History of the KGB

The KGB was founded in 1954 as the official successor of the infamous Stalinist NKVD, or People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs. Earlier in Soviet history, the KGB was known as the Cheka, a short form for “Extraordinary Commission” and particularly ruthless even among the secret police forces of the time. The Cheka was responsible for some of the most violent political purges in Soviet history and maintained a powerful reputation even when it was replaced in 1934.

KGB’s Role and Powers

The KGB was created following the dissolution of the NKVD, which had been accused of numerous atrocities. It was tasked with protecting the Soviet Union from both external and internal threats. The KGB was the Soviet Union’s premier security agency and played an extremely powerful role in the Soviet Union as a whole. It had the power to conduct secret surveillance and investigations, police frontiers, and incarcerate political prisoners. It was also responsible for espionage and counter-intelligence both within and outside of the country.

The Disbandment of the KGB

The KGB was dissolved in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. In spite of this, its legacy still lives on. The KGB’s infamous slogan “trust but verify” is still used internationally and its influence is still felt in the Russian Federation. In spite of its dissolution, the legacy of the brutal and powerful KGB will not be forgotten.