The USSR state security bodies reorganization in the first months of the Great Patriotic War

The complex international situation before the Great Patriotic War, the hostile environment almost on all USSR borders demanded to obtain information on the emerging threats of the imminent anti-Soviet military and other campaigns as well as the important international events concerning the state security. The study highlighted the main challenges faced by the Soviet security bodies in the first period of the war, revealed the reasons for their reorganization, addressed the main problems of the public security officer activities. The research reviewed the stages of establishing state security departments responsible for state protection. The author concluded that the government reforms helped the security officials to perform their tasks more effectively.