Military counterintelligence of the Soviet Army

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Military counterintelligence within the Soviet Armed Forces was controlled by the nonmilitary Soviet secret police throughout the history of the USSR (1922 to 1991).^{[citation needed]}^{[clarification needed]}

Military counterintelligence departments of the Soviet Armed Forces existed in all larger military formations, each called a Special Department (Russian: Особый отдел (ОсО)) or third department/section. The staff of the Special Department would usually establish a secret network of informants.

TGU (ТГУ КГБ СССР, 3 ГУ КГБ СССР ('third')) functionaries were responsible for protection of the military units and of important servicemen (e.g. commanding officers) against activities of foreign military attaché offices/diplomats.

Timeline^[1]

Initially there was no common counterintelligence directorate. Various armies and fronts had their "Special Departments".
Vecheka, ВЧК, founded on 20 December 1917
Military Department of Vecheka, Военный отдел ВЧК, established on 27 July 1918
Special Department of Vecheka, Особый отдел ВЧК, established on 19 December 1918
Special Department of Secret Operative Directorate of GPU NKVD RSFSR, Особый отдел СОУ (Секретно-оперативное управление) ГПУ, July 1922
Special Department of OGPU, Особый отдел ОГПУ, September 1930
4th Division of the OGPU Special Department, 4 отделение Особого отдела ОГПУ
Special Department of the GUGB NKVD USSR, Особый отдел ГУГБ НКВД СССР (July 1934 –)
5th (Special) Dept. of GUGB, 5-й (особый) отдел ГУГБ December 1936 –
2nd Directorate of NKVD (Special Departments), 2-е Управление (особых отделов) НКВД СССР June 1938 –
4th (Special) Dept. of GUGB, 4-й (особый) отдел ГУГБ September 1938 – February 1941
3rd Directorate of People's Commissariat of Defense,(UKR НКО) Третье Управление НКО February 1941 – July 1941
3rd Directorate of People's Commissariat of Soviet Navy (UKR NKВМФ), Третье Управление НКВМФ February 1941 – January 1942
3rd Dept. of NKVD, (OKR NKVD) Третий отдел НКВД February 1941 – July 1941
Directorate of Special Departments of NKVD, (УОО НКВД) Управление особых отделов НКВД СССР July 1941 – April 1943
SMERSH (ГУРК НКО) 1943–1946
Third Chief Directorate of MGB of the USSR, Третье Главное Управление МГБ СССР, May 1946 – 1953
Third Directorate of MVD of the USSR, Третье управление МВД СССР, March 1953 – 1954
Third Chief Directorate of KGB by the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Третье главное управление КГБ при СМ СССР, March 1954 – 1960
Third Directorate of KGB of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Третье управление КГБ при СМ СССР, 1960–1978
Third Directorate of KGB of the USSR, Третье управление КГБ СССР, 1978–1982
Third Chief Directorate of KGB of the USSR, Третье главное управление КГБ СССР, 1982–1991