Yamnitsky, Mikhail Sergeevich (1899-1939)

Major of state security (GB) who served in the Che Ka, the first Soviet state security agency, and its successor agencies beginning in 1919. In June 1937, Yamnitzky was named division head of military counterintelligence for the GUGB NKVD; then, in March 1938, he became head of the Third Department of the Second Directorate of the NKVD. He was decorated with the Red Star Order in 1937.  In June 1938, he was sent to the Far East. Yamnitsky was arrested on November 6, 1938 and executed on February 26, 1939. He was not rehabilitated because of  his active participation in repressions in the Red Army in 1937-1938. ¹