Bazhan Oleg

Kurkul operation of the NKVD of the USSR in 1937-1938 in Kyiv region: target groups and scope of repressions

Section: State terror of the soviet era

Abstract: The purpose of the study is to determine the reasons, basis and mechanisms of implementation of the operational order of # 00447 signed by the head of the People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the USSR N. Yezhov on July 30, 1937, and known as "kurkul operation", ascertain its consequences and find out the number of victims in Kyiv region. Methodology and methods. General scientific and special historical methods (comparative-historical and critical, problem-chronological, statistical-analytical) were used to achieve research objectives. This tools and methods allowed to analyze the historiography devoted to this issue as well as legislative and operational orders of the NKVD in 1937–1938, statistical reports of the Ukrainian NKVD in Kyiv region in the period of Great Terror. Conclusions. "Kurkul operation" authorized by the organizational and administrative documents of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Russian Communist Party (bolsheviks) and the NKVD of the USSR was the fundamental point of the Great Terror in Kyiv region in 1937-1938. NKVD employees brought the groundless accusations towards the detained citizens during the investigations: participation in anti-Soviet activities, taking part in counter-revolutionary groups, preparation of terrorist acts, agitation that called to overturn or undermining of the Soviet regime, discrediting the USSR Constitution, spread provocative rumors about the approaching war and the collapse of Soviet power, hostility on the collective farm system in the Soviet Union. Many people from different social classes were executed under the secret order # 00447. However, peasants, priests, former members of the White movement as well as members of political parties suffered from repression most of all.

Keywords: kurkul operation, People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs of UkrSSR, Great Terror, Kyiv region (oblast).

  Full-text PDF    https://doi.org/10.15407/vuchk2020.02.047     Citation

• Bazhan Oleg (Institute of the History of Ukraine of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, bazhanclio@ukr.net) ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2328-4512

Cite:
Bazhan Oleg (2020). Kurkul operation of the NKVD of the USSR in 1937-1938 in Kyiv region: target groups and scope of repressions. From archives of VUChK–GPU–NKVD–KGB, ( 2 (54)) 47-65. (In Ukrainian). doi: https://doi.org/10.15407/vuchk2020.02.047

References:

1. Brekhunecj, N. (2019). Zavershaljnyj etap borotjby radjansjkogho totalitarnogho rezhymu proty ukrajinsjkoji avtokefaljnoji pravoslavnoji cerkvy (drugha polovyna 30-kh rr. XXh st.) Chasopys ukrajinsjkoji istoriji. Vol. 39, 41 [in Ukrainian].
2. Danilov, V and Manning, R. (Ed.). (2004). Tragediya sovetskoj derevni. Kollektivizaciya i raskulachivanie. 1927–1939. Dokumenty i materialy. Vol. 5 1937–1939. Part 1. 1937. Moskva: ROSSPEN [in Russian].
3. Junghe, M., Bordjughov, Gh., and Bynner, R. (Comp.). (2008). Vertykalj boljshogho terrora. Ystoryja operacyy po prykazu NKVD N00447. Moscow: AYRO-XXI [in Russian].
4. Kokin, S. and Yunhe M. (Comp.). (2010). Velykyj teror v Ukraini. «Kurkul’s’ka operatsiia» 1937–1938 rr. Part 1. Kyiv: Vyd. dim «Kyievo-Mohylians’ka akademiia» [in Ukrainian].
5. Kondruk, V. P., Reient, O. P., Chystyk, I. X., Bilokin', S. I., Hrynchuk, M. M., Danylenko, V. P. et al. (Ed.). (2007). Reabilitovani istoriieiu. Kyivs'ka oblast'. Vol. 2. Kyiv: Osnova [in Ukrainian].
6. Kravchenko, Ja. (2015). Masovi represiji 1937-1938 rokiv proty predstavnykiv dukhovenstva na Kyjivshhyni (za materialamy arkhivno-slidchykh sprav). Abstracts of Papers 2015: Istorija ta suchasni vyklyky nepokaranykh zlochyniv radjansjkogho totalitaryzmu proty cerkvy. Kyev and Dnipropetrovsjk [in Ukrainian].
7. Rasstrel po raznaryadke, ili kak eto dolali bol'sheviki (1992, 4 iyulya). Trud [in Russian].
8. Rubljova, N. (2007). Represiji proty «cerkovnykiv» i «sektantiv» v URSR, 1917–1939 rr. Z arkhiviv VUChK–HPU–NKVD–KHB – From archives of VUChK–GPU–NKVD–KGB, 1, 205-219 [in Ukrainian].
9. Shytjuk, M. M. (1998). Masovi represiji na terytoriji Mykolajivshhyny (30-ti rr. XX st.). Ukrajinsjkyj istorychnyj zhurnal – Ukrainian Historical Journal, 1, 94-99 [in Ukrainian].
10. Taran, M. (2013, 2 serpnja). Pravednyky Porossja na zakhysti ridnoji movy i viry. Slovo Prosvity [in Ukrainian].
11. Tryhub, O. (2009). Rozkol Rosijs'koi pravoslavnoi tserkvy v Ukraini (1922–39 rr.): mizh Derzhavnym politychnym upravlinniam ta reformatsiieiu. Mykolaiv: Vyd-vo ChDU imeni Petra Mohyly [in Ukrainian].