crimes committed by totalitarian regimes - Ministrstvo za pravosodje

Crimes committed by totalitarian regimes
of the foreign intelligence of the Communist security apparatus. The fund is systematically surveyed in
order to make more files available.
The Public Education Office, which is the third division, carries out research in the field of the
history of Poland from 1939 to 1990 and conducts educational activities (see below).
In 2007, due to an amendment to the act, another department, the fourth one, was established
within the institute: The Vetting Office. It deals with verification of vetting (lustration) statements, as
submitted by the most important person in the country, as well as publication, on the Internet, of lists of
officers of the Communist security services, members of the Communist party and victims of the state
repression.
3. The educational activity of The Institute of National Remembrance
The Public Education Office of the Institute of National Remembrance, alongside with its branches
throughout the country, is involved in a widespread research, educational and publishing activity.
Scientific research is done within 10 nationwide and a number of regional and individual research
programs. These include both the period of World War II (crimes committed by the Nazi and Soviets
occupiers, the Holocaust, the Polish Underground State, relationships between Poles and other nations)
and the time of the Communist dictatorship (crimes committed by the Communist system, activity of
the Communist security and repression services, the armed underground, the opposition and social
resistance, crises of the Communist system, etc.). Results of the research are presented at scientific
conferences, as staged by the Institute, many of which are of international character (e.g. in 2007, 45
conferences were held, including 7 international ones). These are also disseminated by means of the
Institute’s scientific periodicals (Pamięć i Sprawiedliwość – Remembrance and Justice and Aparat
represji w Polsce Ludowej – The Apparatus of Repression in the Polish People’s Republic), other scientific
papers (altogether over 2,000 scientific articles to date), as well as in the book form. The Institute of
National Remembrance has published more than 300 books so far, including monographs, document
editions, memoirs, photographic albums, etc. Among the latest publications, it is worth mentioning the
monumental Atlas podziemia niepodległościowego 1944–1956 (Atlas of the Independence Underground
1944–1956) which documents the activity of the anti-Communist conspiracy. A few books have been
published in the English language, including the Handbook of the Communist Security Apparatus in
East Central Europe 1944–1989, developed by an international team of researchers.
The Public Education Office of The Institute of National Remembrance becomes engaged as
well (also by means of financial support) in a wider-scale documenting activity performed by external
partners. Two projects may serve as an example here which aim to produce a complete list of names of
the fatalities of the German and Soviet occupation during World War II.
Educational activities are numerous. A large number of these are addressed to teachers and students
of secondary schools. All secondary schools receive the popular scientific monthly “Biuletyn IPN”
(Institute Newsletter) including various aspects of the newest history of the country. Each edition
features a DVD with a documentary. Every year, The Institute of National Remembrance stages a few
competitions for school students, aiming to encourage knowledge of history. 12 educational packages
have been published of different content (e.g. the Holocaust, the Polish-Ukrainian relationships, the
Martial Law), including aids to be used in class (photographs, copies of documents, maps, etc.),
as well as exemplary lesson scenarios. Employees of The Public Education Office run hundreds of
lessons and deliver hundreds of lectures at schools. The so-called “training lessons” are organised,
too, during which experienced teachers instruct their colleagues how to teach the difficult issues
of the modern history. A number of workshops and training courses for teachers are offered every
year.
Many educational activities are wide-scaled. At present, almost one thousand schools have applied
to participate in the project “I’ll Tell You about the Free Poland”. In the course of its implementation,
students will familiarise themselves with the modern history of the country, prepare their own
projects and – following professional instruction – record accounts by history witnesses (participants
in the Resistance during World War II and the post-war conspiracy, members of the anti-Communist
opposition).
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