The KGB
What They Are
The KGB (Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti-The Committee for State Security) is the civilian arm of Russian intelligence responsible for domestic security and gathering foreign intelligence. They are known for their agents and spies who carry out special operations in other countries. They are similar to the United States' CIA.
How They Came To Be and When
The KGB developed from the Cheka, a secret police force that started in 1917. It had many names over the years and changed with the times, but in 1954 the current leader, Alexander Shelepin, called the group the KGB and it has been so ever since. The KGB originated in the Soviet Union and is still a part of Russia to this day.
Who's Important
There have been seven major leaders of the KGB since 1958. The current one being Vladimir Putin and the very first was Alexander Shelepin.
Alexander Shelepin
The first leader of the KGB from December 25, 1958 to November 13, 1961.
Vladimir Semichastny
He was the second leader from November 1961 to April 1967.
Yuri Andropov
He was the third leader from 1967 to 1982.
Vadim Viktorovich
He was the sixth leader in 1991.
Vladimir Putin
He is the current leader and president of Russia. He was an agent in the KGB in 1975 and resigned during the 1991 Coup against Mikhail Gorbachev.