Intelligence Gathering against Germany as seen through the Eyes of the Head of the „West” Department, Division II of the Chief of the Main Staff of the Polish Army 1932–1939 Cover Image

Wywiad na Niemcy oczami kierownika Referatu „Zachód” Oddziału II Sztabu Głównego Wojska Polskiego 1932–1939
Intelligence Gathering against Germany as seen through the Eyes of the Head of the „West” Department, Division II of the Chief of the Main Staff of the Polish Army 1932–1939

Author(s): Tadeusz Dubicki, Robert Majzner
Subject(s): Military history, Political history, Social history, Interwar Period (1920 - 1939), WW II and following years (1940 - 1949), Fascism, Nazism and WW II
Published by: Wojskowe Biuro Historyczne im. gen. broni Kazimierza Sosnkowskiego
Keywords: military intelligence; Second Polish Republic; the Third Reich; Second Bureau of the Polish Main Staff;

Summary/Abstract: The article is a critical analysis of major Adam Świtkowski’s opinion concerning the functioning of military intelligence against the Third Reich, which was documented in 1943 as an expression of protest against the falsifying of history and the depreciation of the achievements of „Western” intelligence before 1939. The biggest asset of the document in question is the fact that it was written by the longest serving head of the „West” Department, who was also in charge during its most important period, i.e. between 1932–1939. Świtkowski’s opinion was drafted to complement an interrogation commissioned by a Navy Court Martial in London, within the framework of an investigation into captain Jerzy Niezbrzycki and major Tadeusz Nowiński, who were accused of defaming the then head of the Information-Intelligence Department of the Commander in Chief ’s Staff. The document focuses on two matters, i.e. the consequences of the „In.3” affair with regards to intelligence gathering against Germany, and the department’s role in preparing the country against any aggression from its western neighbor. At the same time, it provides the reader with a lot of supplementary information concerning the structure and modus operandi of the military intelligence service and the effects of its operational activity.

  • Issue Year: XXIII/2022
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 211-241
  • Page Count: 31
  • Language: Polish