INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Thursday, 3 November 2011

Austrian Cultural Forum Budapest

Intelligence Services in Central Europe during the Cold War

During the Cold War, eastern and western secret services collided in Central Europe. Especially Austria was – above all as a result of its four-power occupation until 1955 – a hub for international espionage. It became a stamping ground for the secret and intelligence services of the Cold War protagonists, but also for services from neighbouring countries. Information on the other side was collected here, agents recruited and hostile activities exposed. The direct and indirect procurement of information quickly gained in strategic and political importance. Some Austrians, but also Hungarian emigrants, who had been recruited by, for example, the American military counterintelligence service CIC, were brought before Soviet military tribunals and received draconian sentences, even including death by shooting.

In the framework of this international conference, historians from Austria, Hungary, Denmark, Italy and the Czech Republic analyse the role and function of the intelligence services in Central Europe during the Cold War. Particular focus is placed here on Austria and the neighbouring states of Hungary and Czechoslovakia as well as on cooperation between Hungarian and Romanian state security services. Finally, the question will be pursued as to how agents and spies were recruited, and which consequences economic and scientific espionage had.

We invite you to the conference and ask you to register by October 31 under: orsolya.nemeshazi@bmeia.gv.at or 00361 413 3590 

Programme:

For more information also see www.bik.ac.at