REORGANIZATION OF CZECH SECURITY ORGANS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000300240002-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 19, 2013
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: August 10, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/11/04: CIA-RDP82-00047R000300240002-9
CLASSIFICATION SECRET/SECURITY INFORW
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO
INFORMATION FIE:PC)FIT
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF INF
CD NO.
50X1
Czechoslovakia DATE DISTR./0 Aug 1953
/
Reorganization of Czech Security NO. OF PAGES 450K1
Organs
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01100100,00 OW.AAIN TOIC TTTTTT NOTION OF THIS TONY IN
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
50X1
May 1950 the STB (State Security Corps), SNB (National Security Corps) and
the LIA (People's Militia) in Czechoslovakia were reorganized. When the existing
regme found that it could not suppress resistance and the underground movement
t1.4 Czechoslovakia, it decided to create an armed force of Communist sympathizers,
centralized under the new Ministry of National Security, to combat it.
2. The new Ministry of National Security was created in May 1950 with headquarters
in Prague. It incorporates all units of the STB, SNB, LM, SVS (Corps of Prison
Ouards) and the PS (Border Guard). Slovakia did not receive the customary
counterpart of the Ministry, under the usual heading of Commission, but rather
all activities are centered in Prague.
3. The former Departments of the Ministry of Interior, combined with the Commission
for Interior, such as Department III, came under the jurisdi&tion of the Minis-
try of National Security, headed by Gen Karol agaillx. Another overall change
took place when the STB was decentralized and instead of a few large headquarters
scattered in big communities, an STB headquarters was set up at the seat of each
Kraj National Committee (KNV). Similarly, reliable STB members were placed with
every Okres National Committee (ONV) and to work as security referents. Okres
STB memAgps are usually chosen from the_ranks of the people of the area in ques-
tions Lso as to. be less conspicuous (?1,1 This means that the former Department
III of the Slovak Commission for the Interior, came under the jurisdiction of
the Ministry-of National Security (following a suitable purge or "re-examination")
and has nothing left in common with affairs of the interior. Each kraj, okres
and even small locality now has an STB post, complete with security referents
(these people are simple, neophyte Party members, who act as informers).
4. On duty, the STB members are plain clothes men who dress according to custom and
special needs of the particular area in which they wish to find information and
remain inconspicuous. The STB also makes use of laymen as agents; they bring
reports and follow and observe, mostly covertly, predesignated persons.
The STB is distributed approximately as follows:
(a) Ministry of National Security - Prague
(b) Main Headquarters in Prague; in Slovakia the main headquarters are in the
old garrison building in the Leopoldov prison at Bratislava.
(c) Kraj headquarters at the seat of every KNIT (Kraj National Committee)
(d) Okres headquarters at the seat of.every ONV (Okres National Committee).
CLASSIFICATION
SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION
DISTRIBUTION
State Eli,
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/11/04: CIA-RDP82-00047R000300240002-9
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/11/04: CIA-RDP82-00047R000300240002-9
SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION-
- 2 -
(e) Security referents in eaCh MNV (Local National CommitteeY.
(f). Security referents in factory, enterprise office etc.
50X1
6. Similarly the SNB, which has been ,placed under the sole jurisdiction of the new
Ministry of National Security, habbeep,reorganized and the following departments
'created: ,
(a) External defense
(b) Internal security
(c) Border guard.
,(d) People's Militia
The Internal security department includes all former police forces and the Corps of
Prison Guards; the People's Militia are armed units, attached to the Ministry of
National Security. When the components and units were transferred from the Ministry
of Interior, many older members were dismissed or transferred to industry, etc. They
are being replaced by the regime by new persons who have undergone suitable re-educa-
tion and who seem to be more reliable in the eyes of the rulers.
7. The SNB was divided into its various departments for reasons listed below, which
are approximations:
Department I - External defense, protActs and guards Czechoslovakia frem an in-
flux of foreign intelligence agents L zpravodajsky agent could also be foreign
news correspondents (?1/0 and to carry out rural security measures. The depart-
ment guards labor and concentration camps which hold political prisoners, and
important enterprises.
(a)
'(b) Department II -!:lihternal security, maintains order, directs traffic, aSdists at
VarioUs.political Celebrations, etc..
Department III - Border guard, is composed Of special units, stationed at the
border. They are armed with special weapons and trained dogs. As reinforce-
_
ments, they may call upon units of the army, trained in special camps for this
purpote.
The number of SNB members is some three times as great as it was before World War II.
-There is constant recruiting of new members, but selection is quite restricted. Only
persons who are Communists gay be considered for membership ip the SNB; they must
be recommended by the KSC Lpommunist Party of Czechoslovakia/ and undergo political
schooling before they areeven enlisted into the service. Only then do they receive
their military training. The results of their pre-enlistment political education,
determine whether they are fit for the STB or the SNB. The STB cooperates closely
with the Silt and the KNVel and they assist in various cases, which require armed
guards to�be present.
9. Relatively new methods, following the Soviet example, are being introduced within the
Ministry of National Security., For example: members of the STB are not supposed to
know each other, or recognize each other, except by number. One spies on the other
and they mutually follow each other. They are not permitted to gain an insight into
the secret service. The STB is the executive arm of the KSC, which governs the entire
service through the Security Commissariat, known as Bezpecnostni Komisariat or under
the abbreviation BK-8. This department is attached to the main secretariat of the
-Communist Party and its members are leading representatives of the Party. The Chair-
map or the BK -8 is normally the commander of the STB. There is the ever present
Soviet member of the NKVD, who acts as organizer and whose decisions are final. The
BK-'8 does not appear in public, it is not listed anywhere as an office, although it
directs the entire STB and SNB and its decisions are final. The BK-8 has offices in
Bratislava. Proceedings within BK-8 are secret and meetings are only held when
necebaary and not at regular intervals. aide a week the members of BK-8 meet at the
so Called secret Party council where policy is made.
10. Both the STB and the BK--8 have departments for studying foreign countries. Special
agents conduct espionage abroad and the entire attention of the department is focused
. on Western Nations and overseas areas. Agents, who are sent abroad, are given assign-
ments to gain access to important 'positions or enterprises, by posing under false names
or presenting false credentials, etc. They are instructed to keep in touch with the
local consulate or write letters in code. The code changes from time to time. Agents
receive their specialized training either in the USSR or in Poland.
- end -
SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2014/11/04: CIA-RDP82-00047R000300240002-9