SMERSH EVENTS IN THE CASE OF THE PUNITIVE DETACHMENT "UKRAINIAN COMPANY" IN THE SUMMER OF 1943

Anisimov Dmitry Sergeevich

In the study of the history of Soviet special services during the Great Patriotic War, one of the directions is to study the role of SMERSH (Death to Spies) in operational search and investigative activities carried out in the territories liberated by the Red Army. They were primarily aimed at identifying traitors, deserters who defected to the enemy and committed war crimes against the civilian population. To identify the role of SMERSH operatives in the investigation of such crimes, office materials related to the actions of one of the collaborationist detachments operating on the territory of the Orel region in 1942 – 1943 under the name "Ukrainian Company" were analyzed. The paper presents an analysis of the interrogation protocols of the arrested members of the punitive squad, as well as the testimony of witnesses and the prompt response to the data received from SMERSH employees. The chain of operational investigative measures that led to a fairly rapid completion of the investigation and sentencing of criminals is analyzed.

Keywords:SMERSH, counterintelligence, operational search activities, counterintelligence activities, aspects of counterintelligence work