Intelligence and Counterintelligence Actions of the Silesian Voivodeship Police at the Polish-German Border between 1922 and 1939

Formed in 1922, the Silesian Voivodeship Police became an important part of the state security system in the newly reconstituted country of Poland. The Silesian Police officers were included in counterintelligence operations aiming to protect Poland and the Silesian Voivodeship immediately upon creation of the Silesian police force. One important element of counterintelligence measures used to protect Upper Silesia from external risks was monitoring the Polish-German border. The Silesian police officers protected Polish interests in the region both by participating in actual counterintelligence operations and by amassing “shallow intelligence.” Information gathered by the intelligence and counterintelligence operations of the Silesian police during the interbellum period was useful to both civil state security institutions of the Second Polish Republic and its military intelligence and counterintelligence services.