Sluzba Bezpieczenstwa
Encyclopedia
Służba Bezpieczeństwa Ministerstwa Spraw Wewnętrznych (swuʐba bɛspʲetʂɛɲstfa miɲistɛrstfa spraf vevnɛ̃tʂnɨx) (Security Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs), or just SB, was established in the People's Republic of Poland
in 1954. It was the main security organ in PRL
after 1956.
to the west
, of Józef Światło (born Izaak Fleischfarb) who took orders from the high politics
, such as order to arrest Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, it was decided to abolish the Ministry of Public Security
.
MBP, consisting of a large operational body, was responsible for typical security duties also intelligence
and counterintelligence. MBP also had control over 41 000 soldiers of the Internal Security Corps, 57 500 officers of the Citizens' Militia, 32 000 officers of Border Troops and 10 000 Prison Guard and also 125 000 members of the Volunteer Reserve Citizen Militia.
Communist Party
decided to divide the MBP into two parts. Thus, in December
1954 a Committee for Public Security (Kds.BP) Komitet do spraw Bezpieczeństwa Publicznego was created, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MSW
). Committee for Public Security served as a secret police
service, as it was responsible for internal and external intelligence
, counterintelligence, fighting reactionary underground movements, fighting the influence of Catholic Church, etc.
MSW Ministry of Internal Affairs was responsible for administrative duties, but eventually it took over the control of Internal Security Corps, Citizens' Militia, Border Troops, Prison Guard and also members of the Volunteer Reserve Citizen Militia.
politics
. Until recently jailed Władysław Gomułka become the first secretary of the Central Committee
of the Communist Party
(PZPR).
Also in the structures of the state security changes were made. The current Committee of Public Safety was abolished and its duties has ben taken over by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. After that changes MSW
was the only security organ in Poland
. Immediately the officers working in Security Service was called SB-ek. From the word Służba Bezpieczeństwa (Security Service)
Organization of Służby Bezpieczeństwa MSW (Security Service of Ministry of Internal Affairs) on the central HQ In 1956, presented it self like shown below:
At the central level Służba Bezpieczeństwa was divided on Departments, Bureau's, sections and Directorates
Central organization of the Security Servise (SB) for year 1956
UNITS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SECURITY SERVICE IN 1956
, most notably in the case of the Solidarity movement, the leader of which, Lech Wałęsa
, was under constant SB surveillance, until its replacement by the Urząd Ochrony Państwa
in 1990 after the fall of communism.
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
in 1954. It was the main security organ in PRL
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
after 1956.
History
In 1954, after escaping of a high ranking officer of the Ministry of Public SecurityMBP
MBP may refer to:In biology:* Major basic protein, a protein which in humans is encoded by the PRG2 gene* Maltose-binding protein, a part of the maltose/maltodextrin system of Escherichia coli* Mbp, an abbreviation for mega base pairs...
to the west
West
West is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.West is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of east and is perpendicular to north and south.By convention, the left side of a map is west....
, of Józef Światło (born Izaak Fleischfarb) who took orders from the high politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
, such as order to arrest Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, it was decided to abolish the Ministry of Public Security
MBP
MBP may refer to:In biology:* Major basic protein, a protein which in humans is encoded by the PRG2 gene* Maltose-binding protein, a part of the maltose/maltodextrin system of Escherichia coli* Mbp, an abbreviation for mega base pairs...
.
MBP, consisting of a large operational body, was responsible for typical security duties also intelligence
Intelligence
Intelligence has been defined in different ways, including the abilities for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning, emotional intelligence and problem solving....
and counterintelligence. MBP also had control over 41 000 soldiers of the Internal Security Corps, 57 500 officers of the Citizens' Militia, 32 000 officers of Border Troops and 10 000 Prison Guard and also 125 000 members of the Volunteer Reserve Citizen Militia.
Communist Party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
decided to divide the MBP into two parts. Thus, in December
December
December is the 12th and last month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days.December starts on the same day as September every year and ends on the same day as April every year.-Etymology:...
1954 a Committee for Public Security (Kds.BP) Komitet do spraw Bezpieczeństwa Publicznego was created, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MSW
MSW
-Computers:*Microsoft Windows, an operating system*Machine Status Word, a data segment in the LOADALL instruction set for Intel 286 processors*Microsoft Office Word, a proprietary word processor-Science and Engineering:...
). Committee for Public Security served as a secret police
Secret police
Secret police are a police agency which operates in secrecy and beyond the law to protect the political power of an individual dictator or an authoritarian political regime....
service, as it was responsible for internal and external intelligence
Intelligence
Intelligence has been defined in different ways, including the abilities for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning, emotional intelligence and problem solving....
, counterintelligence, fighting reactionary underground movements, fighting the influence of Catholic Church, etc.
MSW Ministry of Internal Affairs was responsible for administrative duties, but eventually it took over the control of Internal Security Corps, Citizens' Militia, Border Troops, Prison Guard and also members of the Volunteer Reserve Citizen Militia.
1956 changes
In 1956, there has been a huge change in PolishPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
. Until recently jailed Władysław Gomułka become the first secretary of the Central Committee
Central Committee
Central Committee was the common designation of a standing administrative body of communist parties, analogous to a board of directors, whether ruling or non-ruling in the twentieth century and of the surviving, mostly Trotskyist, states in the early twenty first. In such party organizations the...
of the Communist Party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
(PZPR).
Also in the structures of the state security changes were made. The current Committee of Public Safety was abolished and its duties has ben taken over by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. After that changes MSW
MSW
-Computers:*Microsoft Windows, an operating system*Machine Status Word, a data segment in the LOADALL instruction set for Intel 286 processors*Microsoft Office Word, a proprietary word processor-Science and Engineering:...
was the only security organ in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Immediately the officers working in Security Service was called SB-ek. From the word Służba Bezpieczeństwa (Security Service)
Tasks and Organizational Structure
The tasks of the Security Service of virtually no different from its predecessors (MBP and Kds.BP), they relied primarily on the protection of the communist system inside the country (and beyond) through the control and penetration into all structures of social life in Poland and abroad (SB has such a deep penetration of Polish citizens living abroad mainly in America, Canada and the UK).Organization of Służby Bezpieczeństwa MSW (Security Service of Ministry of Internal Affairs) on the central HQ In 1956, presented it self like shown below:
At the central level Służba Bezpieczeństwa was divided on Departments, Bureau's, sections and Directorates
- Units of an organizational level of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
- Headquarters of the Citizens' MilitiaMilicja ObywatelskaMilicja Obywatelska was a state police institution in the People's Republic of Poland. It was created in 1944 by Soviet-sponsored PKWN, effectively replacing the pre-war police force. In 1990 it was transformed back into Policja....
- Fire Service Headquarters
- Field Headquarters of the Defence
- Chief Administration of Geodesy and Cartography
- Central Board of Health
- Organizational Units of Internal Forces
- Internal Security Corps Command
- Command of Border Troops
- Information Directorate for Internal Forces counterintelligence for internal troops
- Minister Cabinet
- Chief Inspector
- Department I (Intelligence)
- Department II (for counter-espionage)
- Department III (for anti-state activities against the country)
- Department of Social and Administrative
- Military Department
- Office of Oversight Penal-Administrative law
- Office of Foreign Passports
- Bureau of Government Protection
- Bureau Technical Operations
- Bureau of Operations Records
- Bureau "A" (cipher)
- Bureau "B" (observation)
- Bureau "W" The (overside ofcorrespondence)
- Bureau of Investigation
- Department of Personnel and Training
- Independent Organization Section
- Finance Department
- Investment Department
- Supply Directorate
- Transport Directorate
- Directorate of Communications
- Ordnance Department
- Organizational and Military Directorate
- Directorate of Social Affairs and Culture
- The Central Archives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
- Chief Inspectorate for Industry Protection
- Administration and Economic Management
- Office of the Chief Committee of the Flood
SB activities
After it was renamed as the SB in 1956, it entered a period of relative inaction during the era of reform instituted by Władysław Gomułka. However, after 1968, it was revived as a stronger body and became responsible for implementing political repressionPolitical repression
Political repression is the persecution of an individual or group for political reasons, particularly for the purpose of restricting or preventing their ability to take political life of society....
, most notably in the case of the Solidarity movement, the leader of which, Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa is a Polish politician, trade-union organizer, and human-rights activist. A charismatic leader, he co-founded Solidarity , the Soviet bloc's first independent trade union, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, and served as President of Poland between 1990 and 95.Wałęsa was an electrician...
, was under constant SB surveillance, until its replacement by the Urząd Ochrony Państwa
Urzad Ochrony Panstwa
Urząd Ochrony Państwa or UOP was the intelligence agency of Poland. It was founded on April 6, 1990, as a department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In 1996 it was transformed into a separate government agency under the supervision of the Prime Minister...
in 1990 after the fall of communism.
SB victims
One of the most infamous cases was the torture and execution by the SB of the Catholic priest Jerzy Popiełuszko in 1984. Since 1990, several SB operatives have been tried for their crimes. Also, SB is suspected of killing Stanisław Pyjas and Catholic priest Stefan Niedzielak.See also
- Adam Hodysz
- Czesław Kiszczak
- Marian ZacharskiMarian ZacharskiMarian Zacharski , was a Polish Intelligence officer arrested in 1981 and convicted of espionage against the United States. After four years in prison, he was exchanged for American agents on Berlin's famous Glienicke Bridge. Arguably, he was one of the most famous agents of the Polish ...
- Gromosław Czempiński
- Sławomir Petelicki
- Eastern Bloc politicsEastern Bloc politicsEastern Bloc politics followed the Red Army's occupation of much of eastern Europe at the end of World War II and the Soviet Union's installation of Soviet-controlled communist governments in the Eastern Bloc through a process of bloc politics and repression...
- Grzegorz PrzemykGrzegorz PrzemykGrzegorz Przemyk was a young, aspiring Polish poet from Warsaw, who was beaten to death by functionaries of Milicja Obywatelska...
- Instytut Pamięci Narodowej
- Montelupich prisonMontelupich PrisonMontelupich prison was a prison located in Kraków, which was used by theGestapo throughout World War II. Prisoners in Montelupich included politicalprisoners, members of the SS and Security Service who had been...
- PZPR
- Rakowiecka prison
- Telephone tapping in the Eastern BlocTelephone tapping in the Eastern BlocTelephone tapping in the countries of the Eastern Bloc was a widespread method of the mass surveillance of the population by the secret police.-History:...