Yezhovshchina

Yezhovshchina refers to a period of intense political repression in Soviet history from 1936 to 1938, named after Nikolai Yezhov, the leader of Stalin's secret police (NKVD). During this time, a series of widespread purges targeted perceived enemies of the state, including party members, military officials, and ordinary citizens. Thousands were executed or imprisoned on often baseless accusations, fostering a climate of fear and suspicion. It was part of Stalin's broader effort to consolidate power and eliminate opposition, resulting in significant human suffering and upheaval within Soviet society.