What was the Russian KGB like in 1937?

In 1937, the KGB, then known as the NKVD (People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs), was a powerful and feared organization in the Soviet Union, deeply involved in state security and political repression. This period was marked by the height of the Great Purge initiated by Joseph Stalin, during which the NKVD conducted widespread arrests, executions, and deportations of perceived enemies, including party officials, military leaders, and ordinary citizens. The agency operated with a culture of paranoia and brutality, often using torture and forced confessions to maintain control and eliminate dissent. The NKVD's actions during this time contributed significantly to the atmosphere of fear and oppression that characterized Stalin's regime.