Subject Area
History
Description
The Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (Stasi) was the infamous state security service of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR, or East Germany) active from 1950-1989. It was instrumental in keeping the Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands (the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, or the SED) in power for nearly 50 years. Stasi agents engaged in psychological warfare, murder, and torture of perceived enemies, most of whom were citizens of East Germany. The official mission of the Stasi was the maintenance of security of the state, however, the Stasi acted mainly as an ideological enforcer, targeting those with perceived hostilities to the GDR. The Stasi is widely acknowledged as the most effective secret police force in history, and was the most impressive in the Eastern Bloc, often working closely with the Soviet KGB.
Erich Mielke was the longest-serving Stasi minister, overseeing the ministry from 1957 until its dissolution in 1989. Aside from running the Stasi from day-to-day, Mielke focused on presenting an image of the Stasi as a humanistic and virtuous organization. He did this with his impressive oratory skills, addressing common citizens and party members alike. Mielke was also deeply involved in the foreign affairs of the GDR, and traveled to many nations within the socialist bloc, collaborating with foreign secret police organizations. Despite his extensive speeches and talks on the Stasi’s strict adherence to the law, the reality was much different, and most saw through this facade. The Stasi is often cited as the most reviled organization within East Germany, and Mielke is frequently acknowledged as its most hated person by its former citizens. The Stasi frequently broke the law, and, in the name of a sort-of “East German exceptionalism,” interfered in the daily lives of citizens of the GDR and in foreign affairs.
The Stasi remains a controversial topic within unified Germany. Many Stasi officers integrated without incident into a new, “free” German society. Very few former officers faced any consequences of their actions under the East German regime. Even fewer were convicted of crimes due to the political and legal implications that would have resulted in Germany. Many former officers would even go so far as to form political blocs and throw their support behind extreme leftist political parties which are still active today. While the documentation of the entire history of the Stasi is a difficult and nearly impossible undertaking, this thesis seeks to acknowledge the historical injustices that occurred under the East German police state, countering the Marxist vision of so-called freedom in the true spirit of justice and human rights.
Publisher
Providence College
Academic Year
2021-2022
Date
Spring 2022
Type
Thesis
Format
Text
Language
English
