Język Polski
English
Information support of civilian intelligence for heavy industry and energy of the Polish People's Republic (1970-1990)
Aparat Represji w Polsce Ludowej 1944-1989, No. 1(17) (2019), pages: 233-257
Publication date: 2023-03-28
PDF (Język Polski)
Abstract
Since the 1950s the civilian intelligence of the Polish People’s Republic supported Polish scientific and research centres as well as industry, by supplying them with construction and technological documentation. They also supplied them with other materials containing technical know-how, mostly from the OECD countries. The beginning of the Edward Gierek’s decade in power brought structural and personnel changes in the Polish scientific and technical intelligence. Teams of officers were introduced to perform secret jobs in industry departments, including those responsible for heavy industry, machinery and energy. The intelligence broadened the scope of its help to the state economy by supplying long term predictions concerning crucial raw material markets, such as copper or coal, and other sectors like the shipbuilding industry. In addition, by recruiting informants in Western enterprises and state institutions, information was obtained that enabled Poland to negotiate better conditions when entering into multimillion-dollar contracts with partners such as Fiat and Renault. In the 1980s a crucial beneficiary of the intelligence operations was – aside from the machine tool and aviation industries – the Polish defence industry which attempted to modernise Polish army. Costs of illegal transfer of knowledge and purchases made on so called ‘black market’ were usually several times lower than through the official channels.
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