About IPN Archives
The Institute’s collection contains files acquired from the communist organs of repression and documents of the Second World War occupational authorities.
They are now accessible to the victims of repression, journalists, researchers and public institutions. The IPN’s archival resources amount to over 93 km of files.
The IPN Archives gather documents created by the State Communist Security bodies (among others, Public Security Department of the Polish Committee of National Liberation, Ministry of Public Security, the Committee for Public Security and the central institutions of the Security Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, together with subordinate regional units, including, among others intelligence and counterintelligence services, the Civic Militia, military intelligence and counterintelligence; see art. 5, Act on the IPN) and also prosecutor, court and prison records concerning the people victimised due to political causes.
Access procedures and applications
The Act forming the Institute of National Remembrance of December 18, 1998 (with further amendments) contains the general rules of access to the files kept in the IPN Archives, and the cathegories of the persons permitted for insight in the records.
It is important to stress that the access to the documents, records, etc., kept in the IPN Archives is granted in an administrative proceeding by written application only. The separate types of the application forms refer to the articles and sections of the IPN Act concerning the access entitlements.
- Learn more at ipn.gov.pl/en
