Securityarchives Portal

The Institute of National Remembrance Archive invites submissions for the conference “Technology in the Service of Eastern Bloc State Security Organs.” The conference aims to explore the operational methods of the security apparatus in the Polish People’s Republic and other Eastern Bloc countries during the Cold War, with a particular focus on intelligence-gathering techniques. As is well known, both civilian and military services harnessed the latest technological advancements, adapting them to their operational needs. Over the decades, these methods evolved from simple mechanical devices to sophisticated electronic and computing solutions, including covert surveillance, operational photography, audio and video recording, and various forms of wiretapping and bugging.

The organizers hope the conference will provide an excellent opportunity to share research findings on these topics, drawn from studies done in Poland and abroad – particularly in post-communist countries. This will enable comparisons of the techniques employed, their levels of sophistication across different services in the Bloc, and presentations of specific devices or operational practices used by officers. It will also highlight how these were refined through technological progress to increase their effectiveness. Another promising area for analysis includes scientific and technical research into operational technology, as well as unusual real-world applications.

Presentations can take the form of scholarly papers or commentaries accompanying audiovisual materials. The organizers will provide the technical equipment necessary for presenting audio and video content.

Within the scope of this topic, we would like to address the following issues:

• procedures for the use of operational technology
• technical devices and practical methods of their deployment
• external observation
• operational photography
• filming
• use of operational technology in handling sources (informants, agents, secret collaborators)
• photochemistry and secret writing
• wiretaps and bugs
• electronic devices and computer technology
• radio communication and radio counterintelligence
• ciphers and cryptography
• unconventional operations employing operational technology
• operational technology in foreign intelligence operations
• pharmacology, poisons, and concealed firearms
• research into psychotronics and attempts at its use by Eastern Bloc security services
• organizational structures supporting the operational apparatus and personnel
• devices and equipment used by Western intelligence services
• research and development and technical progress
• cooperation among the Eastern Bloc security agencies in the field of technology

Conference venue: Warsaw, 9 June 2026.

Conference languages: Polish and English

The organizers reserve the right to select papers and presentations from the proposals submitted. Selected speakers will be notified of their invitation to the conference by email. To apply, please fill out the attached application form and send it to the email address below.

Deadline for submissions: 14 March 2026.

Deadline for approval of the participant list: 31 March 2026.

Publication:

The post-conference articles prepared by speakers will form the basis of the thematic section of the periodical Przegląd Archiwalny Instytutu Pamięci Narodowej (Archival Review of the Institute of National Remembrance), scheduled for publication in 2027. At the same time, we would like to note that preparing a post-conference text is not obligatory.

There will be no conference fee and the organizers will provide speakers with free accommodation, meals on the day of the conference, and reimbursement of travel expenses. (IPN employees will treat their participation in the conference as part of their allowable business trips.)

Please send your applications to:

Dawid Chomej, tel., +48 22 581-87-94 e-mail: dawid.chomej@ipn.gov.pl