INFILTRATION OF THE POLISH ARMY OFFICERS BY ENEMY AGENTS IN THE NKVD PRISON CAMP IN STAROBILSK (SEPTEMBER 1939–MAY 1940) Cover Image

Infiltracja agenturalna oficerów Wojska Polskiego w obozie jenieckim NKWD w Starobielsku (wrzesień 1939-maj 1940)
INFILTRATION OF THE POLISH ARMY OFFICERS BY ENEMY AGENTS IN THE NKVD PRISON CAMP IN STAROBILSK (SEPTEMBER 1939–MAY 1940)

Author(s): Beata Gałek
Subject(s): Security and defense
Published by: Uniwersytet Przyrodniczo-Humanistyczny w Siedlcach
Keywords: prisoner of war;infiltration;NKVD (The People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs)

Summary/Abstract: Since the first days of the Soviet invasion of Poland on 17 September 1939, the Polish Army officers and state officials became the focus of the USSR security services attention. The decision to concentrate the Polish Army officers in two special camps in Starobilsk and Kozelsk aimed at facilitating and speeding up the operation of collecting data on their political and occupational history, as well as other information useful for performing the NKVD’s operational actions. The NKVD leaders supposed that it would help to recruit candidates for agents and informants. In addition, they counted on obtaining valuable operational materials from some, particularly intelligence and counterintelligence, officers, as well as information on the tactics of German troops from senior commanders. Whereas research results clearly indicate that the vast majority of Polish officers were highly patriotic and resistant to pressure, as well as infiltration by enemy agents.

  • Issue Year: 2/2015
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 127-143
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: English