Secret After 5

For 40 years, the Stasi ensured the rule of the ruling party, the SED. In its “fight against the enemy,” the Ministry for State Security continued to expand, both in Lichtenberg and throughout the GDR. In 1990, courageous citizens not only saved the secret police’s files from destruction here, but also turned Mielke’s headquarters back into a public space. Today, this site houses, among other things, the Stasi Records Archive within the Federal Archives, which provides information about the Stasi’s activities and its records.

“A Monument to Surveillance”: The Stasi Records Archive houses 111 kilometers of files, many of which contain personal data on individuals—collected by the State Security. The exhibition “A Glimpse into the Secret” brings the significance of this archive to life.

After the guided tour, you will have the opportunity to visit our collection of sample files. It consists of reproductions of original Stasi documents. In addition to case files and personnel records of Stasi officers, the collection also includes files belonging to individuals affected by the Stasi. These individuals have consented to the publication of their documents, making an “Insight into the Secret” possible.

• Register at einblick-ins-geheime@bundesarchiv.de or by phone at 030 18 665-6699