Aparat bezpieczeństwa Polski Ludowej wobec Kościoła katolickiego na przykładzie Śląska Opolskiego i związanych z nim terenów dolnośląskich w latach 1950–1956
The security apparatus of the Polish People’s Republic towards the Catholic Church on the example of Opole Silesia and the neighbouring territories of Lower Silesia in the years 1950–1956

Summary/Abstract: The security apparatus administered by communists played one of the main roles in the activities aiming at the establishment of the totalitarian political system. Such activities undermined in particular the autonomy of the Catholic Church. A proper illustration thereof can be the activities of the security apparatus in Opole Silesia and the neighbouring territories in the years 1945–1950 and in Opole voivodeship in the years 1950–1956. In spite of huge effort at its implementation, the totalitarian vision of the statehood finally proved to be an unrealisable utopia. In the case of Poland, it was definitely shattered by the political breakthrough of October 1956. Not only did the Catholic Church manage to retain its autonomy, but it even came out internally stronger from the struggle for its defence. Nevertheless, under the specific social conditions in Opole Silesia, the communists’ fight against the Church brought evident damage, from the point of view of the Polish raison d'état. Numerous signs indicate that due to its negative reception among the autochthonous population, it contributed to a remarkable extent to the strengthening of pro-German attitudes among Silesians.

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