The main topic of this well-arranged publication is the state security apparatus in the Soviet Union and its external European empire (Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, the German Democratic Republic, Poland and Romania), which were among the most important repressive tools and pillars of communist regimes. The Czech edition was published on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the totalitarian regime in Czechoslovakia, which also resulted in the reorganization and abolition of the communist secret police, the State Security, associated with many negative events in our modern history. The Czech translation is the most extensive, the Polish version has been substantially supplemented by a revised chapter on Czechoslovakia. Thanks to this, this extensive publication brings the very first synthesizing view of the history of State Security for the entire period of its existence. The Czechoslovak chapter thus has the potential to become a starting point for the renewal of research interest in the activities of communist repressive forces.