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Source: BStU/Dresen

Public Education

The Education Team, the Research department and the library offer many services for pupils, students, teachers and academics.

Exhibitions and Museum

We offer you the special opportunity to learn about the history of the Stasi at an authentic site: on the former grounds of the Ministry for State Security. Visit "Haus 1", the centre of the complex. This is where Erich Mielke, the Minister of State Security, had his office until November 1989.

Learn more about how the MfS worked and how the Stasi Records Archive deals with the historical heritage.

An oversized „walk-in file“, an original index card paternoster, a sculpture of files – the exhibition shows the collection of information violating human rights and the effect the GDR secret police had on people’s lives.
Over four floors the exhibition illustrates the Stasi Records Archive‘s current tasks and leads back in time to when the Secret Police created the files.

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The exhibition shows the collection of information violating human rights.
The new exhibition "Access to Secrecy"Source: BStU / Mulders

Services

  • Two pupils reading sample files in the Stasi Records Agency.
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    School Education

    The Stasi Records Archive provides printed material, audio and video recordings as well as downloads for project days and teaching lessons.

  • A recreated pile of files is in the centre of one of the exhibition rooms. In the background you see a woman with a child who use the touchscreen.
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    Museum

    Visitors can get to know the archive through original objects, videos and a “walk-in file”.

  • Shelves of the library. The library of the Stasi Records Agency is open to the public.
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    Libraries

    The library of the Stasi Records Archive is a specialized scholarly library. 

Publications

The Stasi Records Agency publishes several publications a year. A shelve in a library with several books.
A few of the many publications of the Stasi Records Agency.Source: BStU / Adam

The Stasi Records Archive publishes several series of publications and individual publications on the state of MfS research, and on the research of general subjects, archive-related topics as well as on political education.

Most of the publications are in German but there are some publications in English, which you can order or directly download on our website.

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