About the Journal

ISSN print:
ISSN online:

Journal disciplines by:

  • Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education: History (main)

Overview

 Secret State Studies: Journal of World War II History [Studia nad Polskim Państwem Podziemnym. Czasopismo o historii drugiej wojny światowej] is a peer-reviewed academic journal devoted to research on the Polish Underground State and, more broadly, the history of the Second World War. The journal’s title refers to the term used to describe the organised activities of the Polish resistance movement between 1939 and 1945, a term introduced into historiography by Jan Karski – a courier and emissary of the Polish Underground State, who was one of the first to inform the world of the atrocities of the Holocaust in his reports. The journal has been published annually since 2026 by the General Emil Fieldorf ‘Nil’ Home Army Museum in Kraków. Volumes are published simultaneously in English and Polish.

The journal publishes not only academic articles and thematic studies, but also source materials, reviews and polemics, studies on museum collections, and a chronicle documenting academic and institutional activities. As a result, it combines research, documentation and editorial functions, creating a forum for in-depth historical analysis, critical engagement with sources and the dissemination of knowledge about the legacy of the Polish Underground State and the history of the war.

 

Aims and Scope, Submissions Types

The aim of the journal is to advance research into the Polish Underground State by publishing articles based on a thorough analysis of sources, summarising the current state of research, and addressing new interpretative challenges. The journal is distinguished by its combination of a classical historical focus with an extensive range of sections. Another key feature of the journal is its endeavour to examine the history of the Polish independence underground against the backdrop of other European resistance movements and within the broader context of the experiences of societies living under occupation during the Second World War. This facilitates the integration of the historiographical achievements of various European nations and strengthens the comparative perspective in war studies.

The journal focuses on research into the Polish Underground State, which is regarded as the main point of reference for reflections on the experience of war and occupation in Europe. At the same time, it remains open to studies concerning other resistance movements, the functioning of societies under occupation, and the various political, military, social and cultural aspects of the Second World War. This approach allows the subject of the Polish underground to be examined both in terms of its own specific characteristics and within a broader comparative context, set against the backdrop of the region and the world.

The journal accepts:

  • original academic articles,
  • case studies,
  • edited source materials,
  • reviews and polemics,
  • as well as texts of a documentary and museum nature.

Particularly welcome are studies based on original archival research, which address new research questions, systematise the current state of knowledge, or introduce previously unknown or under-utilised sources into the academic discourse.

The journal is aimed at historians of contemporary history, researchers of the Second World War, the occupation and resistance movements, archivists, museum professionals, editors of source materials, as well as all scholars specialising in the political, military, social and cultural history of 20th-century Europe. Given its scope, which encompasses both academic studies and source materials, reviews, museum studies and a chronicle of academic life, the journal also serves as an important forum for those interested in documenting, interpreting and disseminating knowledge about the Polish Underground State and its place in European history.

 

Sections of the Journal

Is the section peer-reviewed?

Introduction

No

Studies

Yes

Varia

Yes

Source Materials

Yes

Reviews & Polemics

No

Museum Collections

No

Chronicle

No

Introduction
Zawiera teksty ze słowem wstępnym do każdego numeru. Są autorstwa zespołu redakcyjnego.

Studies
....

Varia
.....  

Source Materials
.....

Reviews & Polemics
.....

Museum Collections
....

Chronicle
.....

Abstracting and Indexing Services

  • Google Scholar
  • Crossref

 

Long-term Preservation & Archiving

The electronic backup and preservation of access to the journal content are provided by the publisher. The journal content is also transferred to the collections of the National Library in Warsaw (Digital Repository of the National Library) and the Jagiellonian Library in Kraków.

In the case of self-archiving please look at the Copyright & Licensing section.

Revenue Sources

The journal is financed from the own funds of the General Emil Fieldorf 'Nil' Home Army Museum in Kraków. Some income is received from the sale of the print version of the journal. No fees are charged to authors. The business model of the journal does not affect the publication process in any way; the only criterion for accepting a text for publication is its merit.

Advertising Policy

The editorial team does not intend to feature digital advertisements, particularly banner adverts, on the journal’s website. In both the digital and print versions of the journal, the only permitted form of advertising is information regarding patronage (sponsorship), which must be approved on a case-by-case basis by the editorial team and the Director of the General Emil Fieldorf “Nil” Home Army Museum in Kraków, and must comply with the publisher’s policy.

The publication of any advertising material is in no way linked to decisions regarding the acceptance of submissions, nor does it influence the publication process.