Part 6/7:
By 1938, Yezhov’s influence began to wane. His methods had outlived their usefulness, and he stepped beyond accepted limits by boasting about his control over the Politburo. As he faced increasing pressure from Stalin, his inner circle started to crumble. The defection of NKVD commander Genrikh Lyushkov signified a loss of confidence, leading to Yezhov’s dismissal.
In November 1938, he was officially replaced by Lavrentiy Beria. Before long, Yezhov found himself arrested, tortured, and forced to confess to a litany of crimes ranging from incompetence to personal decadence. Despite his attempts to distance himself from accusations of treachery, he was executed in February 1940, marking the end of his brief yet brutal ascent.