Part 4/8:
Beria's most significant role came when he took over the NKVD, the Soviet secret police, after the strangulation of Nikolai Yezhov—his predecessor. With his ascension, Beria enacted a wave of purges that indiscriminately targeted thousands from all walks of life: politicians, writers, scientists, and ordinary citizens. Under his governance, the NKVD transformed into an entity that instilled fear throughout the Soviet Union, where citizens lived under the constant threat of midnight arrests.