Over 500 agents of the former East German special services Stasi operated in Poland. Information to this effect was provided by Hanna Labrenz-Weiss from the German Gauck Institute investigating Stasi operations.

Speaking for Polish Radio early today Labrenz-Weiss said that Stasi began operations in Poland in 1978 after the election of Karol Wojtyla as Pope, defining Poland as a hostile territory.

There was much material gathered concerning Poland, the files concerning the agents were destroyed but still several names were defined. Stasi penetrated the ranks of Solidarity, and following the martial law in Poland Stasi agents were among the Solidarity couriers traveling abroad. Stasi operated in Poland independently of the Polish Security Services.