THE BEGINNINGS OF THE SECOND POLISH REPUBLIC’S MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITY IN THE EAST PRUSSIA

The Polish Military Organization (PMO) was probably the first one to commence its secret activity for Poland in the Eastern Prussian province. Since 1919, in East Prussia, there had also been local offices in Warsaw and Mława working for the Bureau of the Second Pomera-nian Front Command. The participation of Polish intelligence in the plebiscites in Warmia, Masuria and Powiśle, in 1920, is not a well-known fact in the history of Poland. At that time, the Plebiscite Department of Warmia and Masuria was established. It was subordinate to the Second Depart-ment. An average Pole is not aware of the fact that plebiscites established by the Second De-partment of the Polish armed groups existed at that time. Not only were the groups equipped with sticks, but also with guns, hand grenades and even machine guns. The Masuria Guard was not basically the initiative of the local Polish people, as it was implied by the Polish side, but the structure created and commanded by officers of Polish intel-ligence. The Second Department contributed to the development of the existing Polish organiza-tions as well as to the establishment of several new Polish organizations on the plebiscite ter-rains, the most significant of which were falconry and scouting. The Masuria Guard, estimated at about 6,000 members, would not stand a good chance when confronted with ten times bigger German paramilitary armed groups and did not have much influence on the plebiscites ’ results. It was successful, however, in the secret service activ-ity