Stalin ordered the Soviet Secret police, the GPU to arrange Kirov's assassination; the GPU used a fanatic to accomplish the deed, which was blamed on reactionary elements within the Communist party.
Stalin ordered the Soviet Secret police, the GPU to arrange Kirov's assassination; the GPU used a fanatic with a history of mental illness to accomplish the deed, Leonid Nikolaev. After his funeral, Stalin blamed Kirov's assassination on reactionary elements within the Communist party.