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Especially Department III/I
of the BAS was active in international espionage
throughout the Cold War, with some 500 agents, mainly in countries like
Austria, West-Germany and Italy and, to a lesser extent, in Belgium [2].
Usually, the Hungarian Embassy in the guest country acted as a diplomatic
cover for the (illegal) agents of the BAS, with the Resident passing
information back to his Control in Budapest.
For clandestine communication,
a variety of spy radio sets were used.
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During the Cold War (1945-1990), Hungary had many different
intelligence agencies,
just like most other countries behind the Iron Curtain. As the
names and structures of these organisations changed a number of times over
the years, we have listed them here in chronological order:
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1945-1946
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PRO → Budapesti Fokapitányság Politikai Rendészeti Osztálya
Police Main Command Political Department of Hungary, established immediately
after the end of WWII, in 1945. Succeeded by the ÁVO in 1946.
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1946-1950
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ÁVO → Államvedélmi Osztálya
Hungarian State Police State Protection Department, established in 1946 as
the successor of the PRO.
Succeeded in 1950 by the ÁVH.
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1950-1956
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ÁVH → Államvedélmi Hatóság
State Protection Autority of Hungary, established in 1950 as the successor
to the ÁVO.
Hunted down everyone who was vaguely against the rule of Moscow over Hungary.
Dissolved in 1956. After this, Hungary never had another Secret State Police.
The AVO was located at 60 Andrassy Place in Budapest, in the same building
where the Hungarian Nazi Arrow Cross Party was housed during WWII.
The building is now a museum and is known as 'House of Terror'.
(Wikipedia)
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1956-1990
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BAS → Belügyminisztérium Állambiztonsági Szervek
State Security Department of the Ministry of Interior,
active from 1956-1990. Also known as Belügyminisztérium III
(Ministry of Internal Affairs III) with various Departments,
such as III/I (espionage) and III/II (counter-espionage).
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1990-2010
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KNBSZ → Katonai Nemzetbiztonsági Szolgálat
Military National Security Service.
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1990-2010
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NBSZ → Nemzetbiztonsági Szakszolgálat
Special Service for National Security.
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2010
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AH → Alkotmányvédelmi Hivatal
Constitution Protection Office. Current Hungarian internal security
intelligence agency, established in 2010 as the successor to the
NBSZ.
Responsible for counterintelligence,
anticorruption, economic security and related proactive measures.
Also investigative body against organized crime and subversion.
(Website)
(Wikipedia)
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2010
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IH → Információs Hivatal
Information Office. Current intelligence agency of Hungary, involved in
non-military intelligence gathering, mainly abroad.
(Wikipedia)
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Ministry of Internal Affairs - Department III
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Like in most countries, Hungary's major intelligence agency during
the Cold War, the BAS, operated under responsibility of
the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where it was also known as
Department III. This department was further divided into the
following Sections:
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- Intelligence
- Counter-intelligence
- Internal Reaction (and Sabotage)
- Military Response
- Technical Operations
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Tuesday 18 August 2015. Last changed: Tuesday, 16 July 2019 - 17:16 CET.
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