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He was born on September 11 1917 in [[Poland]].  He intended to be a [[Catholic]] [[priest]], but became involved with [[socialist]] movements.  He was frequently imprisoned, and in 1917 he joined the [[Bolshevik]] party.

He was born on September 11 1917 in [[Poland]].  He intended to be a [[Catholic]] [[priest]], but became involved with [[socialist]] movements.  He was frequently imprisoned, and in 1917 he joined the [[Bolshevik]] party.

On December 20, 1917 [[Lenin]] appointed him the head of the newly established [[Cheka]].  Dzerzhinsky went on to be the head of an organization that murdered up to 500,000 "counter-revolutionaries".  After the [[Cheka]] was integrated with the [[NKVD]], Dzerzhinsky headed its successors, the GPU and then the OGPU.

On [[December]] 20, 1917 [[Lenin]] appointed him the head of the newly established [[Cheka]].  Dzerzhinsky went on to be the head of an organization that murdered up to 500,000 "counter-revolutionaries".  After the [[Cheka]] was integrated with the [[NKVD]], Dzerzhinsky headed its successors, the GPU and then the OGPU.

He died on July 20, 1926 in [[Moscow]] of a heart attack. He was widely regarded as a sort of hero in the [[Soviet Union]], and there are numerous cities named after him in the former [[USSR]].

He died on July 20, 1926 in [[Moscow]] of a heart attack. He was widely regarded as a sort of hero in the [[Soviet Union]], and there are numerous cities named after him in the former [[USSR]].