The United States as a country of endless possibilities? American Dream? Forget it! The most stunning careers could be made in Soviet Russia! However, it was fun for really audacious people - it was as easy and fast to go from zero to the top, and then the other way ...
Mikhail Frinowski, who was resting in Sochi in the early fall of 1936, found it hard to hide his joyful excitement. He has just received information that Gienrich Jagoda's successor as the head of the NKVD has been his good friend - Nikolai Yezhov, whom he met by chance on the same joint departmental holidays. Suddenly, Jeżow's friends had unbelievable promotion opportunities. In front of the friends of Jeżow's friends, maybe a bit smaller, but still huge. Therefore, a lower-level encavudist, Sierioża Mironov, who was relaxing at the seaside with Frinowski, was also hoping for a great career.
Praise us and our commodities!
Mikhail Frinowski soon became Yezhov's deputy and, of course, dragged his friend with him. Mironov first became the Head of the NKVD Directorate for Western Siberia, then the plenipotentiary representative in Mongolia, and finally the deputy of Maksim Litvinov - the Soviet minister of foreign affairs. And all this only in a dozen or so months! Big money, villa, service, decorations and medals, diplomatic receptions.
The husband's quick career also meant his wife's promotion. The beautiful Agnessa Mironov felt at ease in it. Here on the beach during resort holidays.
From the stunning successes of Sergei and his wife Agnessie could turn your head. And since terror was raging around, tens of thousands of people were shot every month - who would care about such trifles. Wait a minute, you are beautiful, last! In the spring of 1938, Nikolai Yezhov reached the peak of his power. He was the number 2 man in the Soviet Union at the time. Right behind Stalin, but it was he who aroused the greatest fear. After all, with one stroke of his pen, with one telephone, he could send literally anyone to the firing squad. This period of incredible terror in the Soviet Union was dubbed the Yezhovshchyna after the chief Stalinist executioner.
One step away from the advancement of life
Jeżow's friends and their proteges wanted to climb his back to the highest and most profitable positions. With his advancement, their careers began to gallop.
In the glow of Yezhov's glory, Sergei Mironov also aimed very high. In the fall of 1938, a conference devoted to the situation in the Far East was held at the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs. Joseph Stalin himself took part in it. The situation was very serious - clashes with Japanese troops continued on the Manchurian-Soviet border, and the whole world was on the brink of a great war. During the hours of deliberation, Stalin repeatedly asked Mironov for explanations, encouraged him to speak as a specialist in Far East affairs, an expert on the local realities. Only one person during many hours of deliberations was never asked by the dictator for his opinion - Maksim Litvinov.
It was hard to find clearer proof that he had fallen into great disgrace and that his days as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR were numbered. Mironov could not sleep for a long time that night. Everyone present at the conference noted the exceptional attention and kindness that Stalin showed him. People in the circle of power were perfectly sensitive to such subliminal messages from the chief. It was therefore clear to Sergei that Stalin was seriously considering entrusting him with the helm of Soviet diplomacy! However, he did not live to see a great promotion. Suddenly his career collapsed like a house of cards.
The rising star of Comrade Beria
In the meantime, Yezhov's deputy was a little-known Chekist from Transcaucasia - Lavrenty Beria, who was an urgent executor of the Stalinist guidelines regarding the prosecution of "enemies of the people". This seemingly insignificant event was supposed to mark a real upheaval in the life of the Mironovs.
This photo shows how little was between triumph and fall in the USSR. In the photo on the left, Yezhov in full power and power, at the side of Stalin himself. Next to it is the same photo, appropriately retouched after its fall. There was a man, there is no man.
Besides, Sierioża could not remember for a long time from where he remembered this name, until he finally linked it to the tragic death of one of his friends from the NKVD many years earlier. It was no secret that the simulated murder was ordered by the local party cackie - Beria ... With Stalin's quiet blessing, Beria, in a few months, deprived his nominal superior, Yezhov, of his nominal superior in the NKVD. As explained by Mira Jakowenko, author of the book “Żona Enkawudzista. Confession of Agnessa Morinowa ”:
Something strange started happening. Yezhov is sitting in his office, and all the employees, just like rats from a sinking ship, avoid him like the plague. Nobody comes to him with reports, all matters are dealt with with his deputy, Beria. Yezhov is still in office, he is still in power formally and sits in the People's Commissar's office, but everyone has already backed away from him.
In December 1938, Yezhov was relegated to a ridiculous, from his point of view, position - bloody dwarf (he was only 153 cm tall), the man for whom the entire Soviet Union trembled became ... People's Commissar for Inland Navigation! In his new, much more modest office, he only drank vodka (in industrial quantities) and played with paper planes. He knew the rules of the game and was just apathetic to be shot, which finally happened a year later.
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Waiting for the inevitable
In the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs, a real hunt for Yezhov's protégés (identical to the one they had treated to Yagoda's supporters two years earlier) began immediately. After all, Beria also had numerous friends and acquaintances who were now only kicking their feet in anticipation of an attractive job.
In just a few December weeks, the vast majority of Mironov's associates were swept out of the ministry - most of them, after the murderous investigation, had to be shot in the head, regardless of whether they admitted nothing or, on the contrary, assumed all possible blame , including the plans to murder Stalin . Beria was later called "the minister of fear" not without reason. Mironov himself, a man who a few weeks earlier had realistically thought about taking the helm of Soviet diplomacy, now dreamed of living at least one more day in the wild ... government apartment, revolver in hand and madness in the eyes. He was just wondering whether to wait passively to be arrested or just shoot himself.
Beria's brother preferred to go for the girls
A man in such a state desperately grasps every, even the smallest, chance to be saved. A telegram from his brother aroused great hope. The director of his plant, Beria's stepbrother, came to Moscow. Perhaps Serioża and Agnessa would be ready to host him?
Going on a resort vacation and swimming naked in the Black Sea (as in the photo), Mironov did not even imagine what fate awaits him quite soon ...
We can only assume with what commitment the Mironowie prepared for the visit, which could become their life insurance policy. Beria's brother, however, did not appear, but gave a reassuring message:
I stopped at Lavrenti, a car sent for me. We used to go to the restaurant and see the girls, and I didn't have time to check them out.
And when the NKVD couple was at the very bottom of despair and waited only with resignation to be arrested - an invitation to New Year's Eve came by mail. To the Kremlin, to Joseph Stalin!
When Mironov finally thought he was safe, he came face to face with Beria. A split second later he knew his days were numbered.
From the entire Mironov Commissariat, only two people were invited! Joy, tears of happiness - Stalin did not forget, Józef Vissarionowicz still appreciates Sieriża! That's why he wasn't arrested!
New Year's Eve with Stalin
Seated on New Year's Eve in a short distance from Stalin, drunk with their happiness and the kindness of the leader, the Miron did not expect the impending catastrophe at all. Their exposed places in the hall were arranged in such a way that anyone who tried to get to Stalin's table had to pass right next to them ... And when Beria, late, sweaty, pushed his nerves looking for his place - his gaze stopped for a moment to Sergei. Although the impenetrable eyesight of the NKVD chief did not reveal any feelings, Mironov had no illusions - Beria met a witness of his dirty counts from years ago ...
Six days later, Sergei Mironov was arrested and executed a year later. Three months after Mironov's arrest, Vyacheslav Molotov became the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs. Of course, there is no point in regretting Sergei Mironov. He was the same NKVD executioner as everyone else - even after Stalin's death, he was never rehabilitated. Jeżow's promotion brought him to the top, as did the fall of the bloody dwarf meant a bullet to the head for him, only three years later. Revolution always devours its children.
Sources:
- Norman Davies, Europe. A historian's trial with history , Znak, Krakow 1998.
- Mira Jakowienko, The NKVD's wife. Confession of Agnessa Mironowa , Znak Horyzont, Krakow 2014.
- Rudolf G. Pichoja, The History of Power in the Soviet Union , PWN, Warsaw 2011.