State Security (Czechoslovakia)

In former Czechoslovakia, State Security (Czech: Státní bezpe?nost, Slovak: ?tátna bezpe?nos?) or StB / ?tB, was a plainclothes secret police force from 1945 to its dissolution in 1990. Serving as a investigative, intelligence and counter-intelligence agency, any activity that could possibly be considered antistate fell under the purview of StB.

Related Topics:
Czechoslovakia - Czech - Slovak - Secret police - 1945 - 1990

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From its very establishment on June 30, 1945, StB was bound to and controlled by the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. The Communists used StB as an instrument of power and repression: StB watched and intimidated the political opponents of the Party and forged false criminal evidence against them, thus paving the way for the coup in 1948. Even then, before Czechoslovakia became a Communist state, StB used many brutal practices such as forcing confessions by means of torture or drugs, blackmailing and kidnapping. After the coup, these practices became common and widely used, supported and taught by Soviet advisors.

Related Topics:
June 30 - 1945 - Communist Party of Czechoslovakia - 1948 - Forcing confessions - Torture - Drugs - Blackmail - Kidnap - Soviet

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StB's part in the fall of the regime in 1989 is still uncertain. The fact is, that the reportedly dead student, Martin ?míd, was actually an StB agent named Ludvík Zif?ák. The rumour about a student killed in a demonstration enraged the public, easing the road to the overthrow of the Communist regime; StB's involvement in this crucial point therefore leads to various conspiracy theories.

Related Topics:
Fall of the regime - 1989 - Conspiracy theories

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The State Security was dissolved on February 1, 1990.

Related Topics:
February 1 - 1990

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