Gorokhovaya, 2 – The History Of Political Police In Russia In the 19th-20th Centuries

 Exhibition "KGB In the USSR: People, Events, Actions"

The exposition is based on the materials from the collection of the State Museum of Political History of Russia, archive documents of  foreign intelligence service, Federal Security Service, State archives of Russian Federation, and private collections of KGB men. Main directions of KGB activities are traced with an example of KGB men’s fates: Foreign intelligence, struggle against espionage, economic crimes, internal opposition (dissident movement), terrorism.  The main attention is paid to the creation of special subdivisions of KGB in the USSR: “Alfa”, “Vympel” (“Pennant”),  “Grad” (“Hail”).  A lot of unclassified documents are displayed at this exhibition for the first time. Among them you can find secretnbsp;service reports on the situation in America during the period of Caribbean Crisis; documents concerning the exchange of R. Abel for the pilot F. Powers; photographs depicting the moment of arrest of the USA vice-consul Lon David Augustenborg; materials taken from criminal cases of people condemned for economic crimes. Also medals, orders, and other objects are widely represented.

 

A video film about KGB men activities is shown at the exhibition. It is based on documentary materials from the archives of St. Petersburg Department of Federal Secret Service. The Museum branch “2 Gorokhovaya Str.” carries out intensive expositional work. In the last several years the following exhibitions have been opened:  “From  a Blue Gendarme Uniform To a Black Mask Of Special Units”, “All-Russian Cheka, KGB and Federal Security Service Against Terrorism And Espionage”;  "Cheka Agent’s Shoulder Straps On Women’s Shoulders”, etc.
The characteristic features of the branch “2 Gorokhovaya Str.” are unique documents and objects given to the Museum by participants of the events which the exhibitions are dedicated to.