From 1928, Joseph Stalin led the Soviet Union. He ruled over the Russian poeple for more than 25 years. Stalin created a special government department, the MGB. The MGB made sure that the country and its people were safe. This department later became the secret police force called the KGB. Officers of the KGB collected information about the USSR's enemies. The KGB tried to protect the country and its people. Sometimes the KGB secretly investigated the people of the USSR. SMERSH was part of the KGB. The Letters S-M-E-R-S-H are from the Russian words Smyert Shpionam which mean, Death to Spies. People were very afraid of SMERSH.