to the MI5 reports, Serov was "a capable organiser with a cunning mind". Significance Serov, although generally considered less significant than Beria in modern literature, helped to bring Stalinism to Europe and to Stalinise the Soviet Union. Serov's consolidation of Soviet power in Eastern Europe was helped by his organization of both the Urząd Bezpieczeństwa (Polish Intelligence Service) in Poland and the Stasi in East Germany. Cultural references Serov makes a brief appearance at the beginning of Ian Fleming's 1957 James Bond novel From Russia, With Love. Fleming writes that he "was in every respect a bigger man than Beria" and that "he, with Bulganin and Khrushchev, now ruled Russia. One day, he might even stand on the peak, alone." Serov also briefly features in the 1950s novel Berlin by the German anti-Nazi writer Theodor Plievier, who lived in the USSR throughout the Hitler years. Plievier says Serov was nicknamed chramoi (which he translates as "Old Cripple Foot"), a reference to a supposed deformity (presumably a club foot). Sources Nikita Petrov, "The First Chairman of the KGB: Ivan Serov" (Pervy predsedatel KGB : Ivan Serov), Moscow: Materik (2005) Johanna Granville, The First Domino: International Decision Making During the Hungarian Crisis of 1956, Texas A & M University Press, 2004. Viktor Suvorov, "Inside Soviet Military Intelligence" (1984), References External link 1905 births 1990 deaths People from Sokolsky District, Vologda Oblast People from Kadnikovsky Uyezd Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union members First convocation members of the Soviet of the Union Second convocation members of the Soviet of the Union Commissars 2nd Class of State Security KGB officers GRU officers KGB chairmen Soviet interior ministers of Ukraine Great Purge perpetrators Frunze Military Academy alumni Hero of the Soviet Union forfeitures Recipients of the Order of Lenin Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner Recipients of the Order of Suvorov, 1st class Recipients of the Order of Kutuzov, 1st class Recipients of the Gold Cross of the Virtuti Militari Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Grunwald, 2nd class Recipients of the Patriotic Order of Merit in gold