Just something I came across while reading an obscure history newsletter. The author argues that his grandfather, whom he never met for reasons disclosed in the article, must have been tortured into confessing involvement in counter-revolutionary activities in the 1930s.
Cause nkvd decided bigger numbers more better, with stretch I can believe 1/10th was involved in whatever activities. There were some letters from yezhov saying as much (something like sir we suspect there are 2000 man involved - triple it)