NKVD Order 00447

NKVD Order 00447, issued in 1937, was a directive by the Soviet secret police targeting perceived enemies during the Great Purge. It directed authorities to identify, arrest, and eliminate "counter-revolutionaries," primarily focusing on those labeled as "enemies of the people." The order led to mass arrests, show trials, and executions, creating widespread fear and violence. Its purpose was to consolidate Stalin’s control by removing anyone viewed as a threat to the Communist regime, significantly expanding the scope of political repression in the Soviet Union during that period.