Ivan Fyodorovich Nikishov ( Russian: Иван Фёдорович Никишов; 10 September 1894 – 5 August 1958) was a Soviet NKVD Lieutenant General and director of Dalstroy.
Nikishov was born in Varkino, in the Vologda Governorate of the Russian Empire. He joined the Communist Party in 1919. [1] He entered a career in the NKVD and became its head for Azerbaijan in 1937, where he directed the purges. In 1938 and 1939 he was the head of the NKVD at Khabarovsk. [2]
In 1940 Nikishov was appointed director of the Dalstroy organization. [2] At Magadan he divorced his wife and married the commandant of the women's camp, Alexandra Gridassova (rus.). The couple established a life of luxury in the Siberian wilderness replete with servants, cooks, chauffeurs, and a cultural brigade for entertainment. [3] Nikishov increased the gold production from the Kolyma mines. His difficulties in securing supplies for his operation were solved when the Lend-Lease program went into effect; he could divert cargo delivered to Magadan for services in the Gulag. [4] Ships of the Dalstroy fleet were sent to the United States for overhaul and repair for their duty to transport prisoners to the Gulag. [5] In 1944, Nikishov and NKVD general Goglidze were successful in presenting to Henry A. Wallace, the American Vice President, a sanitized version of the Dalstroy enterprise. [6] On 20 January 1944, he was awarded the title Hero of Socialist Labour for increasing the production of raw materials in Dalstroy. [7] [8]
Investigations for abuse of state funds and debauchery were initiated and he retired in 1948. [9] He died in his bath in 1956. [9]
Nikishov was a candidate member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1939 to 1952. [2]
Ivan Fyodorovich Nikishov ( Russian: Иван Фёдорович Никишов; 10 September 1894 – 5 August 1958) was a Soviet NKVD Lieutenant General and director of Dalstroy.
Nikishov was born in Varkino, in the Vologda Governorate of the Russian Empire. He joined the Communist Party in 1919. [1] He entered a career in the NKVD and became its head for Azerbaijan in 1937, where he directed the purges. In 1938 and 1939 he was the head of the NKVD at Khabarovsk. [2]
In 1940 Nikishov was appointed director of the Dalstroy organization. [2] At Magadan he divorced his wife and married the commandant of the women's camp, Alexandra Gridassova (rus.). The couple established a life of luxury in the Siberian wilderness replete with servants, cooks, chauffeurs, and a cultural brigade for entertainment. [3] Nikishov increased the gold production from the Kolyma mines. His difficulties in securing supplies for his operation were solved when the Lend-Lease program went into effect; he could divert cargo delivered to Magadan for services in the Gulag. [4] Ships of the Dalstroy fleet were sent to the United States for overhaul and repair for their duty to transport prisoners to the Gulag. [5] In 1944, Nikishov and NKVD general Goglidze were successful in presenting to Henry A. Wallace, the American Vice President, a sanitized version of the Dalstroy enterprise. [6] On 20 January 1944, he was awarded the title Hero of Socialist Labour for increasing the production of raw materials in Dalstroy. [7] [8]
Investigations for abuse of state funds and debauchery were initiated and he retired in 1948. [9] He died in his bath in 1956. [9]
Nikishov was a candidate member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1939 to 1952. [2]