Rick Spence

Well, if we go back again to the founder of Soviet secret police, Felix Dzerzhinsky. Dzerzhinsky dies in 1926. Keels over after giving a... heated speech to a party meeting. Now, the common view, what you usually read, which was key for the time, is that, you know, clearly Stalin had him whacked because anytime someone died, it was almost always it. And I think a lot of times he did.

Well, if we go back again to the founder of Soviet secret police, Felix Dzerzhinsky. Dzerzhinsky dies in 1926. Keels over after giving a... heated speech to a party meeting. Now, the common view, what you usually read, which was key for the time, is that, you know, clearly Stalin had him whacked because anytime someone died, it was almost always it. And I think a lot of times he did.

Well, if we go back again to the founder of Soviet secret police, Felix Dzerzhinsky. Dzerzhinsky dies in 1926. Keels over after giving a... heated speech to a party meeting. Now, the common view, what you usually read, which was key for the time, is that, you know, clearly Stalin had him whacked because anytime someone died, it was almost always it. And I think a lot of times he did.

But in some cases, Stalin's probably getting blamed for things that he didn't actually do. Dzerzhinsky wasn't even opposed to Stalin. So it's not clear why he, but this was the, you know, Stalin died, you know, obviously he was poisoned. Something happened. It was an unnatural death. Somebody goes in for an operation, you know, it gets a little too much anesthesia. Stalin killed them.

But in some cases, Stalin's probably getting blamed for things that he didn't actually do. Dzerzhinsky wasn't even opposed to Stalin. So it's not clear why he, but this was the, you know, Stalin died, you know, obviously he was poisoned. Something happened. It was an unnatural death. Somebody goes in for an operation, you know, it gets a little too much anesthesia. Stalin killed them.

But in some cases, Stalin's probably getting blamed for things that he didn't actually do. Dzerzhinsky wasn't even opposed to Stalin. So it's not clear why he, but this was the, you know, Stalin died, you know, obviously he was poisoned. Something happened. It was an unnatural death. Somebody goes in for an operation, you know, it gets a little too much anesthesia. Stalin killed them.

Somebody tips over in a canoe in upstate New York. Stalin killed them. There's actually a case about that. So, That itself can be kind of useful where every time someone dies, they think you killed them. That's kind of an interesting method of intimidation in that regard. But the suspicion is nonetheless there. Dzerzhinsky had been, he was the grand inquisitor.

Somebody tips over in a canoe in upstate New York. Stalin killed them. There's actually a case about that. So, That itself can be kind of useful where every time someone dies, they think you killed them. That's kind of an interesting method of intimidation in that regard. But the suspicion is nonetheless there. Dzerzhinsky had been, he was the grand inquisitor.

Somebody tips over in a canoe in upstate New York. Stalin killed them. There's actually a case about that. So, That itself can be kind of useful where every time someone dies, they think you killed them. That's kind of an interesting method of intimidation in that regard. But the suspicion is nonetheless there. Dzerzhinsky had been, he was the grand inquisitor.

He was seemingly firmly in control of the organization. Of course, maybe he wasn't. Maybe he was. My guess would be is that if Dzerzhinsky's death was not natural causes, that he was probably eliminated by someone within his own organization. And then you look at the people who take over.

He was seemingly firmly in control of the organization. Of course, maybe he wasn't. Maybe he was. My guess would be is that if Dzerzhinsky's death was not natural causes, that he was probably eliminated by someone within his own organization. And then you look at the people who take over.

He was seemingly firmly in control of the organization. Of course, maybe he wasn't. Maybe he was. My guess would be is that if Dzerzhinsky's death was not natural causes, that he was probably eliminated by someone within his own organization. And then you look at the people who take over.

His immediate successor is Vyacheslav Menzinski, who's really not really a secret policeman, more a kind of intellectual dilettante. But if you look behind him, you'll notice the fellow is Henrik Jagoda. And Yagoda will really sort of manage things from behind the scenes until Mijinsky dies in 1934. And then Yagoda will hold on until he's a victim of the purges, I think, in 1937 or 1938.

His immediate successor is Vyacheslav Menzinski, who's really not really a secret policeman, more a kind of intellectual dilettante. But if you look behind him, you'll notice the fellow is Henrik Jagoda. And Yagoda will really sort of manage things from behind the scenes until Mijinsky dies in 1934. And then Yagoda will hold on until he's a victim of the purges, I think, in 1937 or 1938.

His immediate successor is Vyacheslav Menzinski, who's really not really a secret policeman, more a kind of intellectual dilettante. But if you look behind him, you'll notice the fellow is Henrik Jagoda. And Yagoda will really sort of manage things from behind the scenes until Mijinsky dies in 1934. And then Yagoda will hold on until he's a victim of the purges, I think, in 1937 or 1938.

Yagoda is ambitious, murderous. And if I was going to point the finger to anybody who possibly had Dzerzhinsky whacked, it would be him. And for the purposes simply of advancement. That's the, you know, the person to look out at any kind of corporate organization is...

Yagoda is ambitious, murderous. And if I was going to point the finger to anybody who possibly had Dzerzhinsky whacked, it would be him. And for the purposes simply of advancement. That's the, you know, the person to look out at any kind of corporate organization is...

Yagoda is ambitious, murderous. And if I was going to point the finger to anybody who possibly had Dzerzhinsky whacked, it would be him. And for the purposes simply of advancement. That's the, you know, the person to look out at any kind of corporate organization is...

your immediate subordinate, the person who could move into your job, because more than likely, that's exactly what they're planning to do.

your immediate subordinate, the person who could move into your job, because more than likely, that's exactly what they're planning to do.