Dzerzhinsky's Cheka

Dzerzhinsky's Cheka was the Soviet secret police established in 1917 by Felix Dzerzhinsky to protect the new Bolshevik government. It was responsible for identifying, arresting, and punishing enemies of the revolution, often through harsh and covert measures. The Cheka operated outside normal legal procedures, using intimidation and violence to suppress resistance and consolidate Bolshevik control. It became notorious for its ruthlessness, setting the foundation for later Soviet security agencies. Its actions helped maintain Bolshevik power during turbulent years but also involved widespread repression and human rights abuses.