The KGB, or the Soviet Union's security agency, was a significant component of Soviet society. There are various terms that can be used in place of the KGB, which was established during the Bolshevik revolution. Some possible synonyms include the Committee for State Security, the Soviet Secret Police, the Cheka - which was the initial secret police force established by Vladimir Lenin - and the NKVD - which was the organization that assumed control following its dissolution by Stalin in the late 1930s. These agencies all served the Soviet government in missions ranging from espionage to internal suppression. While the KGB is no longer existent today, the legacy of its activity remains a significant moment in twentieth-century history.