Specificity of secret service, operative and investigatory work in the USSR NKVD MVD camps of Western Siberia (1943-1950)

On a basis of unpublished archival materials the author analyzed the organization, specificity and role of investigation and intelligence work in the camps of the world war prisoners and special NKVD MVD hospitals located in Western Siberia (1943 1950). The author reveals aims of SMERSH and operational departments activity in those camps and hospitals, presents data on anti Soviet underground groups of the world war prisoners who called for sabotage in the workplace, were involved in wrecking and showed a tendency towards economic crimes and prison breaking. Personal references of war prisoners agents are considered. The reasons of the antifascist movement failure to improve intelligence work are revealed. The author comes to a conclusion that active intelligence actions in camps, special hospitals, working battalions helped to prevent the organization of a Nazi underground; information about planned breakouts and diversions became known in advance. These factors, certainly, promoted strengthening of the regime and more effective organization of war prisoners labor in the West Siberian region.