[ Autographs ] LAVRENTY PAVLOVICH BERIA (1899 - 1953) Russian politician, the dreaded head of Stalin's security agency, the NKVD, who oversaw the Great Purge of 1934-38 and ordered the deaths of thousands. Unable to resist the power of his position, Beria sought tosucceed Stalin and was in turn tried and executed himself. T.L.S. on NKVD letterhead marked "TOP SECRET", 3pp. legal folio, Moscow, Jan. 4,1940 in which Beria reports to Minister of Defense KLIMENT Y. VOROSHILOZ (1881-1969) on the ongoing war with Finland. Beria relates that a Finnish group of soldiers had crossed the ice from Finland and had attacked Soviet forces from the rear, mining and cutting lines as they went. Beria also reports on the poor quality of reconnaissance groups from Leningrad, due to their poor training and preparation. Boldly signed in pencil at conclusion, with Voroshilov's initials at top and much underlining of text. File holes at left, else fine.