Andrei Vyshinsky might not be a name familiar to most people today. Born of Polish descent in Odessa in 1883, he is most well known for his role in the Stalinist Show Trials of the 1930s. He rose to the rank of Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union before being appointed as the Representative of the Soviet Union to the United Nations. He would hold this position until his death.

Donald Rayfield described Vyshinsky as a man who was “deeply cynical and sadistic and possessed no gratitude.” Vyshinsky reminds me of the line from King Lear where Shakespeare writes “The prince of darkness is a gentleman.” Vyshinsky wore suits and mingled with world leaders while sanctioning state sponsored murder.

He played the role of a gentleman well and Rayfield notes “He was a loving husband and father, capable of kindness if it did not interfere with politics.” His politics were those of the Soviet Union, the politics of communism, the politics of absolute power.

Bukharin described communism as a state where “All humanity without national distinctions is bound together in all its parts and organized into one single whole. Here all the peoples are one great friendly working family.”

The communist state is a perfect utopia and can never be fully achieved without changing human nature. Therefore the path to communism is a utilitarian struggle. Individuality must be smashed and replaced with a collectivist mentality. Unique characteristics must be done away with and free thinking must be punished. But once the violent struggle has been completed utopian conditions will exist. If 500 million people need to die to redeem the remainder of humanity then the utilitarian communist says the sacrifice is worth it.

It is a diabolical scheme and it requires hardened men incapable of gratitude to perform the perfecting purge society requires. Only it is all illusory. Diabolical men will lure in their victims with false promises of a utopia. As Lucifer once said “I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.”

The deceptive allure is appealing. No one will be lost but no one will be free. In a quest for ultimate power Lucifer would enslave all mankind and call it redemption. The Bolsheviks set out to end autocratic despotism and promised a utopia in return. Their promised utopia was as false as Lucifer’s promise to redeem all mankind. The actual goal was ultimate power at any cost.

Vyshinsky craved power. He had no inhibitions against the use of power once he obtained it. He began as a Menshevik and even issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Lenin prior to the October Revolution of 1917. Once the Bolsheviks took power he tried to join the communist party but was continually denied admission until Stalin saw fit to grant him party admission in 1925. His political fortunes were now tied to Stalin. The amount of power he would be able to accumulate would depend on how obedient he was to his new master.

A passage I read about Cain seems to be an apt parallel to Vyshinsky.

“And Cain said: Truly I am Mahan, the master of this great secret, that I may murder and get gain. Wherefore Cain was called Master Mahan, and he gloried in his wickedness.

And Cain went into the field, and Cain talked with Abel, his brother. And it came to pass that while they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and slew him.

And Cain gloried in that which he had done, saying: I am free; surely the flocks of my brother falleth into my hands.”

Speaking of Vyshinsky Rayfield notes “He bullied into mute submission defendants whom he knew to be innocent of trumped-up charges.” Vyshinsky clearly followed the example of Cain. He had no issues with state sponsored murder and must have enjoyed the wicked power he held.

As the repressive nature of the Soviet Union grew Vyshinsky’s responsibilities also increased. His capacity for compassion did not. In order to quickly and efficiently destroy people’s lives Vyshinsky instituted the album method of conviction. His staff would present him with binders full of information detailing individuals, their alleged crimes, and the desired punishment. As Robert Gellatelly noted Vyshinsky “took to signing the bottom of the page and approved whole albums at a time.”

There was no due process, mostly likely there was no crime, but with one signature from Vyshinsky hundreds of people were sentenced. He would not know any details about the people his signature condemned aside from the fact that they were most likely innocent. He served Stalin and Stalin demanded innocent victims. Vyshinsky found them and he condemned them.

During the show trials Vyshinsky believed confessions made the best evidence. No amount of coercion or torture was too much. No charge was too ludicrous or unbelievable. Once the target had been broken false confessions flowed freely.

Vyshinsky served his master Stalin and gained earthly rewards for his pernicious actions. I wonder if his life ever felt hollow or incomplete because he was a man incapable of gratitude.

Sources: Stalin and his Hangmen by Donald Rayfield
Stalin Lenin and Hitler by Robert Gellatelly