East German intelligence and Ireland during the Cold War

17 Oct 2014

East German intelligence and Ireland, 1949–90 Espionage, terrorism and diplomacy by Prof Jérôme aan de Wiel forthcoming from Manchester University Press

East German intelligence and Ireland, 1949–90 Espionage, terrorism and diplomacy by Jérôme aan de Wiel is an in-depth examination of the relations between Ireland and the former East Germany between the end of the Second World War and the fall of the Berlin Wall. It explores political, diplomatic, economic, media and cultural issues. The long and tortuous process of establishing diplomatic relations is unique in the annals of diplomatic history.

Central in this study are the activities of the Stasi. They show how and where East German intelligence obtained information on Ireland and Northern Ireland and also what kind of information was gathered. A particularly interesting aspect of the book is the monitoring of the activities of the Irish Republican Army and the Irish National Liberation Army and their campaigns against the British army in West Germany. The Stasi had infiltrated West German security services and knew about Irish suspects and their contacts with West German terrorist groups.

East German Intelligence and Ireland, 1949–90 makes an original contribution to diplomatic, intelligence, terrorist and Cold War studies. 

Espionage & secret services

HB 978-0-7190-9073-8

£70.00 £35.00

234x156mm 288pp

Published by Manchester University Press, 31 December 2014

Contents

Introduction

PART I: Relations between Ireland and East

Germany

1. History of the relations between Ireland/

Northern Ireland and the GDR

PART II: Intelligence

2. Stasi history and sources

3. Keeping informed and spying on Ireland

4. Northern Ireland in the Zentralen

Personendatenbank (ZPDB)

5. Watching the PIRA, the INLA and BAOR,

1970s–1980s

Conclusion

Bibliography

Index

Prof Jérôme aan de Wiel is Lecturer in History at University College, Cork