Vsevolod Merkulov was also involved with a plan to build up a network of spies inside the Manhattan Project. The NKVD's first success was the recruitment of Klaus Fuchs. The project was given the codename "Enormoz". In November 1944 Pavel Fitin reported: "Despite participation by a large number of scientific organization and workers on the problem of Enormoz in the U.S., mainly known to us by agent data, their cultivation develops poorly. Therefore, the major part of data on the U.S. comes from the station in England. On the basis of information from London station, Moscow Center more than once sent to the New York station a work orientation and sent a ready agent, too (Klaus Fuchs)." (4)

Another important source was John Cairncross. Pavel Fitin reported to Vsevolod Merkulov: "Valuable information on Enormoz is coming from the London station. The first materials on Enormoz were received in late 1941 from our source List (John Cairncross), containing valuable and absolutely secret documents both on the substance of the Enormoz problem and on measures by the British government to organize and develop work on the problem of atomic energy in our country. In connection with American and Canadian work on Enormoz, materials describing the state and progress of work in three countries - England, the U.S., and Canada - are all coming from the London station." (5)

The Soviet government was devastated when the atom bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6th and 9th August, 1945. Allen Weinstein, the author of The Hunted Wood: Soviet Espionage in America (1999): "On August 25, Kvasnikov responded that the station had not yet received agent reports on the explosions in Japan. As for Fuchs and Greenglass, their next meetings with Gold were scheduled for mid-September. Moscow found Kvasnikov's excuses unacceptable and reminded him on August 28 of the even greater future importance of information on atomic research, now that the Americans had produced the most destructive weapon known to humankind." (6)

Pavel Fitin wrote to Vsevolod Merkulov: "Practical use of the atomic bomb by the Americans means the completion of the first stage of enormous scientific-research work on the problem of releasing intra-atomic energy. The fact opens a new epoch in science and technology and will undoubtedly result in rapid development of the entire problem of Enormoz - using intra-atomic energy not only for military purposes but in the entire modern economy. All this gives the problem of Enormoz a leading place in our intelligence work and demands immediate measures to strengthen our technical intelligence." (7)

Elizabeth Bentley had a meeting with the FBI on the 7th November 1945. She gave a 107 page statement that named Victor Perlo, Harry Dexter White, Nathan Silvermaster, Abraham George Silverman, Nathan Witt, Marion Bachrach, Julian Wadleigh, William Remington, Harold Glasser, Charles Kramer, Duncan Chaplin Lee, Joseph Katz, William Ludwig Ullmann, Henry Hill Collins, Frank Coe, Mary Price, Cedric Belfrage and Lauchlin Currie as Soviet spies. The following day J. Edgar Hoover, sent a message to Harry S. Truman confirming that an espionage ring was operating in the United States government. (8)

Kim Philby informed the NKVD of Bentley's defection and on 24th November, 1945, Merkulov wrote to Joseph Stalin and Lavrenty Beria explaining the situation. "In November 1943, Golos died, and the management of both his organization, World Tourist, and of Golos's information network passed to his closest assistant, Elizabeth Bentley." Merkulov speculated that Bentley's behaviour might be related to the case of Louis Budenz, the editor of the Daily Worker, who had recently announced that he was leaving the Communist Party of the United States. "Bentley's betrayal might have been caused by her fear of being unmasked by the renegade Budenz who... knew about her participation in Soviet intelligence work in the U.S." (9)

Anatoly Gorsky now sent a memorandum to Moscow about Bentley suggesting that Joseph Katz should kill Bentley. (5) Allen Weinstein has pointed out: "Gorsky discussed and rejected in his November 27 memo a variety of options: shooting Bentley (too noisy), arranging a car or subway accident (too risky), and faking a suicide (too chancy). In connection with the last option, Gorsky noted that he had selected agent "X" (Joseph Katz) for the task of eliminating Bentley... In the end, Gorsky decided that a slow-acting poison should be administered to Bentley, something "X" could place on a pillow or handkerchief or in her food." (10)

Gorsky warned NKVD headquarters that Joseph Katz was not in good health and that Bentley might cause him problems as he was "a very strong, tall and healthy woman, and "X" was not feeling well lately". (7) Eventually Gorsky was told that: "No measures should be taken with regard to (Bentley)." Gorsky was informed by Vsevolod Merkulov that it had been decided that Lavrenty Beria would deal with Bentley. (11)

Joseph Stalin died on 5th March, 1953. Beria now attempted to replace him as dictator of the Soviet Union. He appointed Vsevolod Merkulov as Minister of State Control. Beria was defeated by a group that included Nikita Khrushchev, Vyacheslav Molotov and Georgy Malenkov. Beria was arrested and accused of conducting "anti-state activities". (12)

Khrushchev pointed out in his memoirs, Khrushchev Remembers (1971): "After Beria's arrest the question arose of what to do about Merkuslov, who was Minister of State Control. I admit that I held him in high regard and considered him a good Party member. He was unquestionably a cultured person, and in general I liked him." Khrushchev claims that he argued: "Just because Merkulov was Beria's assistant in Georgia doesn't mean he was an accomplice to Beria's crimes. Perhaps he wasn't. We can't treat everyone who worked for Beria as his accomplice. Let's call Merkulov in and have a talk with him. He might even help us to clear up some of the remaining questions about Beria."

Nikita Khrushchev told Merkulov "You worked for Beria for many years, Comrade Merkulov and therefore we thought you might be able to help the Central Committee with our investigation." He was asked to write down what he knew about Beria's crimes. "A few days passed and Merkulov turned in a lengthy memorandum. It was absolutely worthless. It was more like a piece of fiction. This man Merkulov was something of a writer. He'd written plays and was good at fiction writing. After I sent this material to the prosecutor's office, Rudenko called me and asked for an appointment. When he came to my office he told me that without Merkulov's arrest our investigation into Beria's case would be incomplete. The Central Committee approved Merkulov's arrest. To my regret, since I had trusted him, Merkulov turned out to have been deeply implicated in some of Beria's crimes, so he too was convicted and had to bear the same responsibility." (13)

Vsevolod Merkulov was executed with Lavrenty Beria on 23rd December 1953.

(1) Donald Rayfield, Stalin and his Hangmen (2004) page 346

(2) Nikita Khrushchev, Khrushchev Remembers (1971) page 305

(3) Vsevolod Merkulov, message to Anatoly Gorsky (11th October, 1944)

(4) Pavel Fitin, report on the Manhattan Project ( 5th November, 1944)

(5) Pavel Fitin report to Vsevolod Merkulov (August, 1945)

(6) Allen Weinstein, the author of The Hunted Wood: Soviet Espionage in America (1999) page 211

(7) Venona File 40159 page 551

(8) Edgar Hoover, memo to President Harry S. Truman (8th November 1945)

(9) Vsevolod Merkulov, letter to Joseph Stalin (24th November, 1945)

(10) Anatoly Gorsky, memorandum to Moscow (27th November, 1945)

(11) Allen Weinstein, The Hunted Wood: Soviet Espionage in America (1999) page 108

(12) Donald Rayfield, Stalin and his Hangmen (2004) page 453

(13) Nikita Khrushchev, Khrushchev Remembers (1971) pages 305-306