Лаврентий Берия. 1953. Стенограмма июльского пленума ЦК КПСС и другие документы

The struggle for power among the top leaders entered a particularly acute stage following Stalin's death. Beriia appeared to be more active than Stalin's other close associates. As head of the punitive organs he knew too much about all the other pretenders to power. They had no alternative but to get rid of him, which they did at the July (1953) Plenary session of the CPSU Central Committee. He was accused of misdeeds on tramped up charges, without a single word uttered about his real crimes: the organization of mass repressions. Also included are documents signed by Beriia after Stalin's death to his arrest in July, 1953, documents about the repression of Beriia's subordinates and relatives.