Lietuvos slaptosios tarnybos

LTAutorius, remdamasis Krašto apsaugos ministerijos, Valstybės saugumo departamento, Kariuomenės teismo ir kitų įstaigų dokumentais, nagrinėja Lietuvos slaptųjų tarnybų veiklą. Leidinyje atskleidžiama jų sukūrimas, raida, agentų verbavimo metodai, įdomesnės žvalgybos, kontržvalgybos ir saugumo tarnybų akcijos. Apibūdinama Lenkijos, Sovietų Sąjungos, Prancūzijos, Vokietijos ir Anglijos analogiškų tarnybų veikla Baltijos valstybėse. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Lietuvos slaptosios tarnybos; Žvalgyba; Kontržvalgyba; Politinis sekimas; Karinė žvalgyba; Rusijos slaptosios tarnybos; Lenkijos slaptosios tarnybos; Užsienio politika; Vidaus politika; Lietuvos nacionalinis saugumas; Lithuanian Secret Service; Intelligence; Counterintelligence; Political surveillance; Russian Secret Services; Polish Secrte Services; Foreign politics; Internal policy; Lithuanian National Security.

ENThe national security of pre-war Lithuania depended on the co-ordinated activities of the Lithuanian’s leadership, institutions and armed forces. The Lithuanian Secret Service was of great significance for the national security of the country. The first secret service, the Information Division, was founded on October 18,1918, soon after Lithuania had declared its independence. The existence of the Division coincided with the first period of the development of Independent Lithuania, i.e. from 1918 to 1922. Initially, the service was subordinated to the Lithuanian Armed Forces General Staff. Such subordination was very logical, as during that period, the national security of Lithuania basically rested on the Aim ed Forces. Gradually, a small Division developed into a well organised Intelligence Office. The Office conducted intelligence and counterintelligence operations as well as the prevention of anti-State acts. The concentration of the above mentioned functions had a great positive effect for the consolidation of the independence of Lithuania. In 1923, the Republic of Lithuania was universally recognised by other countries Understanding this new political situation the Lithuanian Government reorganised the Intelligence Office into two separate services, Intelligence Service, subordinated to the Armed Forces General Staff, and Security Service, subordinated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. After this reorganisation, these two services developed and operated autonomously. The evolution of the Security Service was particularly dynamic. During 1923-1940, the Service experienced four major reorganisations. From August to December 1923, it functioned as Crime Office „B“ of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, from 1924 to 1926, as the Political Police Office, from 1927 to 1933 as the Crime Police Office „A“, and from 1933 to 1940, as the State Security Police Office of the State Security Department.The above m entioned reorganisations were necessary because of the changing domestic and foreign political situation. New methods, applied in the activities of the service, and continually improving professional skills and abilities of the staff, had also stimulated the process. As early as 1934, the Lithuanian Security Service equalled to similar institutions in Western Europe. The personal grew from 117 officers in 1924 to 270 officers in 1940. There were 500 paid informers operating for them. Modern crime laboratories, progressive identification and surveillance methods, close international co-operation and the smooth functioning of the different security services’ divisions made it possible to disclose and neutralise all anti-State movements and some major espionage. Between 1919 and 1939, the Lithuanian Security Service disclosed and aborted 17 anti-State coups, planned by hostile forces of Independent Lithuania. Intelligence and counterintelligence operations were entrusted to military forces. The small Intelligence Group of the Staff developed into a well organised and professional Intelligence Service. Initially, in 1923, the Group operated as the 3rd Section of the Staff. Between 1924 and 1929, it functioned as the Information Section, and in the middle of 1929, it was reorganised into the 2nd Section of the Staff. Lithuanian intelligence agents operated in Poland, the Soviet Russia, Germany, Latvia, Estonia and some other countries. The Service closely co-operated with M ilitary Attaches, the Lithuanian Frontier Police, the Riflemen’s Association (Sauliai) and with some other Lithuanian institutions. Until 1923, the activities of the Lithuanian Intelligence Service were focused on the Polish and the Soviet Armed Forces. Later, in the 1930’s, the priority shifted to the Polish Armed Forces. The growth of German power focused intelligence investigations towards East Prussia.Poland and Germany remained major priorities of Lithuania’s Intelligence Services investigations up to 1939. In 1927, the Information Section of the Staff established mutual co-operation with the Latvian and Estonian Intelligence Services. There were occasional exchanges of information and professional co-operation with the G erm an Abwehr in 1922- 1926, the 2nd Section of the French General Staff in 1936-1940, and with the Check Intelligence Service in 1938. The rapid grow of German military power has boosted the activities of both the German Intelligence Service and its rivals in Lithuania. All had their own specific interests concerning Lithuania. For instance, Germany, Poland and the USSR looked upon Lithuania as a theatre for future military operations. England, France and especially the USSR regarded Lithuania as a potential participant in new military-political blocs. The Lithuanian Secret Service experienced a very busy and difficult period. Its task was to expose and neutralise the activities of foreign intelligence services. Lithuanian counterintelligence justified its existence. Each year, the num ber of exposed German and Polish agents grew. In 1940, eighty foreign agents were imprisoned in Lithuanian. Among the imprisoned, 20 agents were from Germany, and 60 agents were from Poland. The Lithuanian Secret Service performed its duty well to the national security of Lithuania. The Lithuanian Governm ent had an objective information about military potential and plans of neighbouring countries, as well as the activity of antistate organisations in Lithuania. Because of the activities of the Lithuanian Secret Service both the plans of the underground Communist organisation in Lithuania, supported by the USSR, and the Nazi movement in Klaipėda, supported by Germany, failed. [Extract, p. 352-354]

• Politikos mokslai / Political sciences
• Istorija / History