OGPU

OGPU
(initial Russian letters for ‘United State Political Administration’) A security police agency established in 1922 as GPU and renamed after the formation of the Soviet Union ( 1923 ). It existed to suppress counter-revolution, to uncover political dissidents, and, after 1928 , to enforce collectivization of farming. It had its own army and a vast network of spies. It was absorbed into the NKVD in 1934 .