Felix Dzerzhinsky bust (USSR NKVD LEADER) IRON FELEX

thingiverse

Felix Dzerzhinsky was a Polish-born Soviet politician and administrator who played a significant role in the early years of the Soviet Union. He is best known as the founder of the Cheka, the first state security police organization, which was responsible for suppressing opposition to the Bolshevik government. Dzerzhinsky's Early Life and Education Felix Dzerzhinsky was born on September 11, 1877, in Warsaw, Poland, which was then part of the Russian Empire. His father was a Polish nobleman who had converted to Lutheranism, and his mother was a Pole from a lower aristocratic family. Dzerzhinsky studied at the University of Geneva, where he became involved in Marxist circles. He joined the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party (RSDLP) and quickly rose through its ranks. In 1901, he was arrested for his revolutionary activities and exiled to Siberia. Revolutionary Career After his release from exile, Dzerzhinsky returned to Poland and continued his revolutionary work. In 1917, he joined the Bolsheviks and became a key figure in their rise to power. He played a leading role in the October Revolution, which overthrew the provisional government of Alexander Kerensky. Dzerzhinsky was appointed as the head of the Cheka, the first state security police organization, in 1917. The Cheka was responsible for suppressing opposition to the Bolshevik government and rooting out counter-revolutionaries. Dzerzhinsky used the Cheka to intimidate and execute anyone who opposed the Bolsheviks, earning him the nickname "Iron Felix." Legacy Dzerzhinsky's legacy is complex and contested. Some see him as a hero of the Soviet Union who played a key role in establishing the state security apparatus that would go on to become one of the most feared institutions in history. Others view him as a ruthless dictator who was responsible for the deaths of thousands of people. In 1926, Dzerzhinsky died suddenly while visiting Moscow from the Ukraine. His death was not publicly announced until several days later, and it is still unclear what caused his death. Symbolism Despite being viewed negatively by many in modern times, there are some places where Dzerzhinsky's legacy is still celebrated or honored: * In Belarus, a monument to Dzerzhinsky was unveiled in Minsk in 2006. * In Russia, a number of monuments to Dzerzhinsky were restored in the years following his death.