State Security in the SED Dictatorship

The permanent exhibition focuses on the question of how the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) managed to keep millions of people in the GDR under control over 40 years.

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  Blick in die Dauerausstellung Staatssicherheit in der SED-Diktatur – Blick in die Dauerausstellung. Stasimuseum/ASTAK e.V.

• Staatssicherheit in der SED-Diktatur – Büro Erich Mielkes. Stasimuseum/ASTAK e.V.

In House 1, the official residence of the last Minister for State Security, Erich Mielke, the exhibition shows on three floors the origin, development and activity of the State Security as a "protection and security organ".

The Stasi, as the MfS was called by the people, had to secure the power of the SED, defend it against "enemies" and largely control the entire population. The exhibition shows that the apparatus consisted of people with concrete actions and decisions.

Hundreds of thousands were active for the MfS: they were full-time or unofficial employees or they supported the MfS as functionaries in the administration. Vivid examples illustrate the close cooperation of the MfS with all political, economic and social institutions in the GDR.

Numerous, often unique objects such as special cameras, bugs, burglary tools or devices for secretly opening letters are presented, illustrating the extent of surveillance by the Ministry for State Security.

Selected examples from various Stasi files document the activities of the MfS against its own population. Erich Mielke's offices are still in their original condition and can be viewed as part of the exhibition.

Runtime: from January 2015

Price: €8.00

Reduced price: €6.00

Reduced price info: Pupils: 3,00 €

Takes place here:

• Stasimuseum Berlin - Haus 1