This charge has never been fully substantiated, and some believe that
his interview was an effort to excuse 23 years of treason.GKO (GOSUDARSVENNIY KOMITET OBORONY).The State De-
fense Committee was created by Joseph Stalinon 30 June 1941 with
a basic membership of eight senior party, military, and security police
officials to manage the Soviet war effort against Nazi Germany. In ef-
fect, the GKO was the government of the Soviet Union during World
War II(1941–1945) with power to issue decrees with the force of
law to all state, party, military, and police organizations. It oversaw
military strategy, supervised military production, and directed all
matters relating to state security. The leaders of the NKVDand
NKGBreported to Lavrenty Beriaand Stalin on a daily basis. A ma-
jor reason for the Soviet Union’s success in the war was the creation
of political and military unity of command through the GKO.
Whereas Adolf Hitler enjoyed watching his underlings fight, Stalin
built a coordinated center of political and military operations. While
the German intelligence and security services often battled for
Hitler’s ear, the GKO structure allowed intelligence to be funneled
into military strategy.
Beria served as a member of the GKO responsible for all issues of
state security and intelligence. Under Beria’s direction, the intelli-
gence services provided intelligence on the Nazi enemy and kept the
dictator aware of developments in Soviet society. The GKO was a
major consumer of foreign intelligence during the course of the war.
More than 3,000 raw intelligence reports were circulated to the GKO
by the NKGB. Probably no fewer were issued by the GRU. Beria and
Stalin singled out intelligence officers for medals and promotions.
They also mandated criticism and punishment for lack of work or
suspected treachery. Senior intelligence officers were recalled from
foreign postings for punishment on a few occasions. The GKO was
abolished by decree in September 1945 following the defeat of Japan.
In the next few years, Stalin permitted the security service to punish
many of the most successful GKO’s staff officers, including the com-
manders of the Soviet air force and navy.GLASNOST. Glasnost(openness, transparency) was an effort by
Communist PartyGeneral Secretary Mikhail Gorbachevto useGLASNOST•9306-313 A-G.qxd 7/27/06 7:55 AM Page 93