KGB Organizational Development and Major Operations (1954–1991)

1. KGB established under USSR Council of Ministers

   Mar 13, 1954Labels: KGB, Council of

   • KGB
   • Soviet MVD

2. Ivan Serov becomes first KGB chairman

   Mar 13, 1954Labels: Ivan Serov, KGB

   • Serov
   • KGB Chairs

3. First Chief Directorate (foreign intelligence) formed

   Mar 13, 1954Labels: First Chief, KGB

   • First Directorate
   • KGB

4. Aleksandr Sakharovsky begins long tenure leading foreign intelligence

   Jun 23, 1955Labels: Aleksandr Sakharovsky, First Chief

   • Sakharovsky
   • First Directorate

5. KGB participates in suppression of Hungarian Revolution

   Oct 23, 1956Labels: KGB, Hungarian Revolution

   • Serov
   • Andropov

6. Yuri Andropov appointed KGB chairman

   May 18, 1967Labels: Yuri Andropov, KGB

   • Britannica
   • Andropov

7. KGB creates Fifth Directorate to target dissent

   Jul 1, 1967Labels: Fifth Directorate, KGB

   • KHPG Museum
   • Andropov

8. Warsaw Pact invades Czechoslovakia after Prague Spring

   Aug 21, 1968Labels: Warsaw Pact, Czechoslovakia

   • Prague Spring
   • KGB

9. KGB forms Alpha Group special antiterror unit

   Jul 28, 1974Labels: Alpha Group, KGB

   • Alpha Group
   • Andropov

10. Alpha Group takes part in Operation Storm-333 in Kabul

    Dec 27, 1979Labels: Alpha Group, Operation Storm-333

    • Storm 333
    • Alpha Group

11. Vitaly Fedorchuk succeeds Andropov as KGB chairman

    May 26, 1982Labels: Vitaly Fedorchuk, KGB

    • Fedorchuk
    • KGB Chairs

12. Viktor Chebrikov appointed KGB chairman

    Dec 17, 1982Labels: Viktor Chebrikov, KGB

    • Chebrikov
    • KGB Chairs

13. Vladimir Kryuchkov replaces Chebrikov as KGB chairman

    Oct 1, 1988Labels: Vladimir Kryuchkov, KGB

    • UPI
    • Kryuchkov

14. KGB chairman Kryuchkov joins State Emergency Committee coup attempt

    Aug 19, 1991Labels: Vladimir Kryuchkov, GKChP

    • Britannica
    • Coup Attempt

15. Vadim Bakatin appointed last KGB chairman

    Aug 29, 1991Labels: Vadim Bakatin, KGB

    • Bakatin
    • KGB Chairs

16. KGB formally dissolved as USSR breaks apart

    Dec 3, 1991Labels: KGB, Soviet Union

    • KGB
    • Bakatin