Stasi Surveillance State
The East German Stasi operated one of the most pervasive surveillance systems in history, spying on millions of its own citizens.
INVESTIGATION OVERVIEW
The Stasi employed 91,000 full-time officers and 173,000 informants. It maintained files on 5.6 million of 16 million East Germans. Methods included mail interception, phone tapping, hidden cameras, and psychological harassment. After reunification, citizens gained access to their files. The Stasi's methods have been adopted by modern surveillance states.
KEY CLAIMS
The Stasi had informants in every workplace, school, and apartment building
The Stasi used psychological warfare to destroy targets without physical violence
The Stasi files contain information on 5.6 million East Germans
The Stasi operated a massive mail interception program
The Stasi's methods have been adopted by modern surveillance states
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
Stasi records are preserved and accessible; the scale is documented
The Stasi Records Law gave citizens access to their files
The Stasi museum displays the agency's methods
Declassified documents show the extent of informant networks
COUNTER ARGUMENTS
The Stasi was a product of a totalitarian system
Informant numbers may be inflated by counting passive informants
The Stasi was less violent than other secret police forces
Modern surveillance uses different technology
TIMELINE
Stasi established
Berlin Wall falls
Stasi Records Law passed
KEY FIGURES
Erich Mielke
Stasi Minister
Markus Wolf
Head of Stasi foreign intelligence
ORGANIZATIONS
Stasi (MfS)
Intelligence
HVA
Intelligence
SOURCES
RELATED ENTITIES
PEOPLE
Erich Mielke
Markus Wolf
ORGANIZATIONS
Stasi (MfS)
HVA
TECHNOLOGIES
Surveillance
EVENTS
Stasi established
1950
Berlin Wall falls
1989
Stasi Records Law passed
1991