Tour of the Stasi Records Archive at the Historic Site

For 40 years, the Stasi secured the rule of the SED state party. In its “struggle against the enemy,” the Ministry for State Security continued to expand—in Lichtenberg and throughout the entire GDR. Courageous citizens safeguarded the files of the secret police from destruction in 1990 and helped bring an end to the Stasi’s operations. Today, the Stasi Records Archive, now part of the Federal Archives, is located here and provides insight into how the Stasi operated and how their files were used.

“A Monument of Surveillance”:
111 kilometers of files are stored in the Stasi Records Archive, containing countless personal data collected by the Ministry for State Security. The exhibition “Insight into the Secrets” helps visitors understand the importance of this archive. The tour also provides insight into the history of the historic site itself: the former Stasi headquarters.

Before the tour, you have the opportunity to visit a sample file collection. It consists of reproductions of original Stasi records. In addition to documents about Stasi officers, files on those affected by the surveillance can also be found here. These individuals have agreed to the publication of their records, making an “Insight into the Secrets” possible.