1187

LAVRENTY PAVLOVICH BERIA D.S.

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:400.00 - 600.00 USD
LAVRENTY PAVLOVICH BERIA D.S.
<b>1187. LAVRENTY PAVLOVICH BERIA</b> (1899 - 1953) Russian politician, the dreaded head of Stalin's security agency, the NKVD, who oversaw the Great Purge of 1934-38 and ordered the deaths of thousands. Unable to resist the power of his position, Beria sought to succeed Stalin and was in turn tried and executed himself. Fine content war-date D.S. on N.K.V.D. letterhead marked "<i>Top Secret</i>", 2pp. 4to., Moscow, Jan. 12, 1940 to Stalin's Minister of Defense <b>KLIMENT Y. VOROSHILOV</b> who as also initialed the document in pencil. Beria reports that the 3rd NKVD Reg. has fulfilled its military assignment of protecting communications of the 44th Rifle Div. in the Vazhnevar area. He also reports that the regiment had faced three days of intensive skirmishing against the Finns, with the loss of 14 dead and 137 wounded, along with the loss of material, draught horses, and so on. Despite the fighting, Beria reports that morale remains high, concluding: "...<i>All personnel fought with exceptional persistence and heroism...</i>". Signed in bold pencil at conclusion, as is usually the case. Binder holes in left margin, else fine condition.<b> $400-600</b>