Since 1944 till 1990 the functionaries of security services constituted “the armed arm of the communist party”. The main goal of the services was to protect the communists from the society and to eliminate opposition.

History of “Bezpieka¹⁾ “ - Security Service in Poland

First, the Security Services operated within Ministry of Public Security which was created in summer 1944. The executive staff of the Ministry had been trained in NKVD school in Kuibyshev (USSR). Apart from the central office, the “soviet advisers” were sent to all newly-created regional Offices of Public Security in all Poland.
The official activity of the Ministry of Public Security started on January 1, 1945 and it’s wide range of power was not limited by law. The Ministry focused on achieving goals set by the Polish Workers’ Party (PPR) and later Polish United Workers’ Party (PZPR). At the peak of its expansion in 1953 there were 33 thousands functionaries working within the ministry structures. Additionally, a net of 73 thousands of informers (in the mid of 50s) collaborated with the ministry. The informers were recruited by means of brutal intimidation or promises of financial profits. Nevertheless, some of the informers, especially members of the communist party, volunteered for the work.
Offices of Public Security and their informants kept under surveillance the political parties, national and local public administration, social and religious organizations, workers of factories and in general, the social attitudes. One third of the adult Poles were registered in the ministry’s files because they constituted “a dubious element”.
The security system tottered when Józef Światło, high rank officer of the ministry who escaped to the West, revealed its methods and its criminal character.
In 1954 the Ministry of Public Security was replaced by Ministry of Interior Affairs (MSW) and Committee of Public Security Affairs. In 1956 the Committee was liquidated and its competences and staff transferred to the Ministry of Interior Affairs.
The Security Service (SB) operated in Poland since 1956 till 1990. The fall of communist system in Poland in 1989 brought an end to the existence of this political police and organ of terror, which was hostile to the Polish society during all its existence.
Today, the 45 years of activity of the Polish security services is subject of interest of historians and justice department. We already know that security services achieved its mean goals: the independence underground movement as well as legal political opposition ware crushed, Polish elite was exterminated, Polish catholic church was under constant attack, and over 5 thousands Poles were sentenced to death in accordance with the repressive law.

Exhibition
Preserving the memory of the victims of the security services brings the question about the identity of the persecutors. Therefore, the Institute of National Remembrance organized exhibition thanks to which the functionaries of “bezpieka” are no longer anonymous.

The idea of the exhibition “Faces of security service” is to show the identity of the officers of the local security service. Therefore, the local branches of IPN organize its local version of the exhibition basing on their own archival resources. The project covers all Poland.

The schedule of the exhibitions within the project “Twarze bezpieki”-“The Faces of Security Service” (opening dates):

You will find more information on the Polish site of IPN under Twarze bezpieki , including texts of the particular catalogues of the exhibitions and books on the subject.

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¹⁾ Bezpieka – common name for security service