• Tentative Program (see below)
• The conference is on invitation only.To participate in the conference, you should register (using the attached registration form) no later than by March 15, 2005.

The conference's theme is the communist security apparatus in the countries annexed by the Soviet Union (Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia) and the Soviet Bloc states in Europe (Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania).

The conference has three main aims. One is to summarize the current state of research on the history of the communist security apparatus and to indicate the basic areas for future academic projects. The second is to facilitate cooperation between institutions and individuals involved in the documentation of the history of the communist security apparatus. The third is to raise public awareness in Europe about the activities of the communist security apparatus.


The conference program has five main themes (preliminary program see below):

• The place of the communist security apparatus in the structure of power.
• A collective portrait of the communist security apparatus.
• Activities of the communist security apparatus outside the Soviet Bloc.
• Cooperation of the communist security apparatus structures of the Soviet Bloc states.
• The main areas of activity of the communist security apparatus.

Thirty eight papers will be presented during the conference. Leading scholars from various countries, who investigate history of communist security apparatus, as well as young historians were invited to take part in the conference. The organizers hope that the conference will be a great academic event and good possibility to facilitate cooperation between institutions and individuals in the documentation of the communist security apparatus.

The conference will also include two panel discussions, meetings with individuals who were themselves witness to the subject matter under discussion and exhibitions, as well as documentary and feature films about the history of the communist security apparatus. The first day panel discussion subject is “Moral aspects of academic research and public debate on the Communist security apparatus”, the third day panel discussion subject is “Coming to terms with the legacy of the Communist dictatorship (focusing on the Communist security apparatus)”. A book launch for “A Handbook of the Communist Security Apparatus in East Central Europe 1944/1945-1989” will also take place during the conference. The book will contain reports on activities of the communist security services in the countries of the region.

The venue of the conference is the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, Poland.

The official languages of the conference will be English, German and Polish, with simultaneous translation to be provided.

All who are interested in the history of the communist security apparatus are invited to take part in the conference. Those interested in participating in the conference should register (using the attached registration form) no later than by March 15, 2005. Those interested in booking hotel rooms are asked to make a note in the registration form. The registration fee is 30 EUR (135 PLN). Every registered conference participant will receive a brochure containing paper abstracts, conference materials, three lunch vouchers, and an invitation for a special banquet to be held during the conference. In certain cases, the organizers may opt to waive the registration fee. We ask that the registration fee be paid by March 15, 2005. The registration fee will not be refunded after that date. Details on how the fee may be submitted are provided on the conference's web page http://www.ipn.gov.pl/conference2005, which contains all the latest conference information.

Participants who need a Polish visa may receive a letter of recommendation from the Institute of National Remembrance, which they can present at the Polish consulate in their country of residence.
Please send your registration forms to the following address:

fax: +48.22.581.89.26, +48.22.581.89.32

For additional information, please contact:
Anna Piekarska - anna.piekarska (at) ipn.gov.pl
Dr. Łukasz Kamiński - lukaskam (at) uni.wroc.pl

The conference will be co-sponsored by:

Instytut Pamięci Narodowej, Warsaw
Instytut Studiów Politycznych Polskiej Akademii Nauk, Warsaw
Urząd Miasta Stołecznego Warszawy, Warsaw

Bundesbeauftragte für die Unterlagen des Staatssicherheitsdienstes der ehemaligen DDR, in Berlin
Stiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur, Berlin
Zentrum für Zeithistorische Forschung, Potsdam

Ústav pro soudobé dějiny Akademie věd České republiky, Prague
Úřad dokumentace a vyšetřování zločinů komunizmu policie České republiky, Prague

Ústav pamäti národa, Bratislava

A number of PHP associates will contribute to the conference. For further information, please navigate the conference's website.

Tentative Program

( pdf version, 157kb)

Session 1 – “Position of the Communist Security Apparatus within the state structure”

June 16, 2005

1. Prof. Paul Hagenloh (USA) – The MVD/MGB, domestic “Security” and the construction of Secret Police systems in Eastern Europe 1945–1953.

3. Prof. Andrzej Paczkowski (Poland) – „The leading force” – the communist party and security apparatus in Poland 1944–1956.

Session 2 – “Collective Portrait of the Communist Security Apparatus (social background, education, ‘cop culture’, career opportunities, political party membership etc.)”

June 16, 2005

Session 3 – “East Central European Communist Security Apparatuses’
activities outside the Soviet bloc”

June 18, 2005

Session 4 – “Co-operation between the Communist Security Apparatus structures
of the Soviet Bloc countries” (the role of USSR, co-operation, control)

June 17, 2005

Session 5 – “Main directions of activities of the Communist Security Apparatus”
Part 1

June 17, 2005

Part 2 – June 18, 2005