Inwigilacja środowiska akademickiego w PRL : Służba Bezpieczeństwa w Uniwersytecie Śląskim

Abstract

The security service (SB) has been interested in the staff of the University of Silesia since its creation (1968), however, a significant increase in that type of interest was noticed in the 1970s and 1980s. The scope of observation of academic circles has increased at that time, finishing this very process with the formation of a separate unit of the SB in 1982, the task of which was a struggle with anti-systemic attitudes in the environment of higher education in Katowice. In its operational work, SB gained secret agents (TW) from the academic circle (academics, students, academictechnical workers, supportive organs), and used operational connections (KO). The operational connections involved usually members of the Polish United Workers Party. It was assumed that they are to some extent obliged to “help” the security organs, without imposing any formal commitments consisting in signing the declarations of cooperation on the secret service organ at the same time. They worked more eagerly than secret agents who were often gained via blackmail or other forms of compulsion. Operational contacts in the form of people performing big and decisive functions in the university were often used. After November 1989, a subsequent reorganization of the SB, deriving from a change of the political situation in the country, the task of the “security” of higher education and academic institutions was taken over (together with an agency) by the Constitutional State Order Protection Division. Its officers closed the case “University” in January 1990 and made the exposition materials be destroyed. Finally, the observation of the academic circle by the structures of the security service finished with its liquidation between May and August 1990.