The GRU was created under its current name and form by Joseph Stalin in February 1942, less than a year after the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany. From April 1943 the GRU handled human intelligence exclusively outside the USSR.Военная разведка: 1941–1945 (tr, "Military intelligence: 1941–1945") hrono.ruГлавное разведывательное управление Генштаба ВС России. Справка. (tr. "Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. Reference") RIA Novosti, 19 March 2009. In addition to operations against the Axis powers, GRU is credited with having infiltrated the British nuclear weapon programme and up to 70 American government and scientific institutions.
