POLITICAL INDOCTRINATION AT THE MEDICAL ACADEMY IN SZCZECIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A002600030008-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 24, 2005
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: October 28, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2005/07/13 : CIA-RDP80-00810A002600030008-2
INTELLQEAX Zt
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
25X1 DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
Political Indoctrination at the
Medical Academy in Szczecin
25X1
25X1
28 October 1953
25X1
25X1
1, Th addition to the normal subjects, all students of the Medical Academy in. Szczecin
(Stettin) are compelled to attend the Studium.WOjskowe (Military- Studies) aid also
political lectures. These lectures are organized by the ZMP (Union of Polish Youth)
and the Basic Party Organization (POP)? They are given three times a week and last
1j-hours-'each, They cover, in addition to instruction on the development of political
conditions in the world from the communist point of view? political economy, Marxist
dialectics, and the history of workers? movements,
2. At the end of each academic year students must pass an examination in the Studio
Wo j skowe, which is regarded as the most vital and important examination daring the
whole course of their studies. Failure to pass this examination means the loss of
a whole year of study,, no matter how excellent the progress made by individual student
in their professional subjects. Great stress is laid on attendance at political lec-m
tares and it is-very difficult to present acceptable excuses for absenteeism.,
3. Irrespective of political training described above both the ZMP and the POP carry
on their ideological 'training outside the normal school curriculum.
The attitude of the lecturers toward political training is that of indifference and
it is regarded by them as a necessary evil.
The attitude of the students varies according to their class origin. Middle-,class
students are indifferent to it but they attend the lectures because this is a.
necessary condition for the completion. of their studies, Students of working-class
origin show some measure of interest in political lectures, believing that the working
class is now better off in Poland than before. It can be said generally that the
attitude of students to the present political conditions In Poland is indifferent and
more hostile than otherrisell the proportion of those in favor of it is very small
indeed.
SECRETd
STATE x
25X1
(Note: Washington Distrihpprovec' `F r f 6IeaseD2b )U7?i3~~dIA-RDP80-00810A002600030008-2
 Approved For Release 2005/07/13 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA002600030008-2
SECRET
25X1
25X1
6, During lectures the lecturers must always make a reference to the achievements-
of Soviet learning. Even if some achievement is known to have been made in the
West it is not meritiorie3., and if the event happens to be too Important to pass
over Ifi silence,, it must be said-that the given discovery or achievement had
in fact been made earlier in Rassiaf, but that of course the West in its propaganda
was claiming it as its =a. I private conversation with students the lecturers
never-:refer to political. matters., as it is a public secret that a large rn tuber
of-the students are in the se ripe of the t1B (Security Police) and of the Party.
But in private conversation on scientific subjects the lecturers do not stress so
frequently the Soviet discoveries and achievements,
7. Officially students are not forbidden to practice their religion. In reality,, however,,
much is done to make it difficccult,0 For instance, in the spring of 1953 a senior
Chixrch_ dignitary arrived in Szczecin and. was to preach a special sermon for the
students. The authorities of all academic schools in Szczecin organized on that
day practical training exercises of the Studlum Wojskoww i.e. drill in marching,,
which went on till late in the evening, Several students of the Medical Academy
did hot take part in these exercises and attended the sermon, Among them were an,
assistant in the chemistry department and another in the physiological chemistry
department who were deprived of their posts9 which is a serious blow to the student
because of the extra salary attached to the posts,
8. The attitude of the lectcrer?s to sstudents is indifferent and the lecturers are
very reserved in their dealings with students for fear of provocation
25X1
Approved For Release 2005/07/13 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA002600030008-2