In addition to the governing organs which give orders and see that they are carried out, there also exist Central Control Organs which are independent of the local authority. The basic one of these is of course the KGB, but independently of the KGB other powerful organs are also active: the innocent-sounding People's Control for example, a secret police organisation subordinated to a Politburo member who exercises almost as much influence as the Chief of the KGB. In addition to the People's Control, the Ministry of the Interior is also active and this is subordinated neither to the KGB nor to Control.
09-16-2009, 02:47 AM (This post was last modified: 08-13-2012, 08:33 PM by CtahhR.)
This one is sort of an anomaly for me. I know what they were supposed to do, but I don't know how they got the jobs. I am talking about the Комитет Напродного Контроля. The biggest problem is trying to find a suitable translation that doesn't change the meaning - "Committee of People's Control" sounds too Orwellian and "Committee for the People to have Control over some aspects, departments or sections of the government that are allowed to be controlled in any way by the people" is, well...:rolleyes: - but right on the money. And speaking of money, what I've learned about this committee is that the members were often the most corrupt of all (as is often the case with the "watchers of government"). I once saw the badges these members wore like deputy badges for sale, but they were sold by the time I tried to buy one.
Anyway, I've had the ID for years and finally came across a small badge/medal for someone serving on the Committee. It must have been made in the mid to late 60s judging by the style of the hammer and sickle. It seems well made with a LMD mark and an uncut connecting ring (no BS). I also get the biggest kick out of the face on the character in the ID - :yow He looks like the kind of person who makes babies cry just by looking at them and then steals their candy.
Sorry about the darkness of the reverse of the badge, but I couldn't get a good indoor shot without making the wording unreadable.
09-16-2009, 03:31 AM (This post was last modified: 08-13-2012, 08:30 PM by CtahhR.)
Lovely photo! I too have one a similar badge and doc set (with only a normal photo) and remember posing the same question. Someone told me a good corresponding Western organization, but unfortunately I can't remember what it was.
I want to say it was like a neighborhood watch group which would explain its "quasi-official" yet cheap document appearance, but again, I'm not 100% certain.
Another thought that came to me is that it was an organization to do with law enforcement, but that it was an inspector general-type organization.
After looking at the "vneshtatnii inspektor" entry on his booklet, I'd go with this explanation
Yes, I think they were one step above the "Druzhinniks" but not quite real law enforcement. From what I was told, they were a sort of intermediary group between the actual citizens and the MVD/KGB, etc. They were also supposed to oversee the functioning of the actual MVD on a local scale, but (again, from what I was told) they took large bribes from the people to "better" represent themselves to (or to protect them from) the MVD. Hearsay is not evidence, but these people were not well liked by the common person.
I think this organisation was a kind of "Labour Inspectorate" They controlled the shops and the business company, if all laws and regulations are obeyed.
I think they had nothing to do with KGB/MVD.
But I will ask a russian friend what they exaclty did.
