What was the Stasi?
The term "Stasi" is an abbreviation for "Staatssicherheit" (state security). That is what the East Germans called the Ministry for State Security, which was officially abbreviated "MfS". The Stasi had two functions: It worked as both a secret service and a secret police. Many countries have a secret service agency. They are responsible for detecting threats to the country from abroad. Secret police usually only exist in dictatorships. They have the task of controlling their own citizens and eliminating any danger to the ruling regime. They are accountable only to the rulers and circumvent the laws that normal police must obey.
Learning at an Authentic Site
Mielke’s Command: Experiencing History in the Stasi Headquarters
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. "Haus 1" forms the centre of the complex. This is where Erich Mielke, the Minister of State Security, had his office until November 1989. It was from here that the Stasi, as "shield and sword of the party," defended the SED ruling party’s claim to total control over the people in the GDR.
The rooms in "Haus 1" have been preserved in their original condition. Mielke directed the huge spying and repressive apparatus from here. The exhibitions created by the association "Antistalinistische Aktion" (ASTAK e.V.) and the Stasi Records Archive show visitors how the secret police worked and how its victims were affected. The archives containing the original files of the State Security are located just a few steps away from "Haus 1".
Project Workshop
The education staff of the Stasi Records Archive works above Mielke’s former office in "Haus 1". Seminar classrooms equipped with an interactive whiteboard are located here. After receiving an introduction into the subject of the GDR State Security, classes can visit "Haus 1," and take a tour of the archives. Or explore the grounds of the former Stasi headquarters.
We offer school groups:
- Project work to prepare for or follow-up on a visit to the exhibition
- Project work using Stasi sources that have been prepared for educational use
- Project work on the former Central Archives of the State Security
- Tours through the former Central Archives of the State Security
Stasi Museum
After civil rights activists took over the Stasi headquarters in January 1990, the association "ASTAK e.V." established "Haus 1" as a research and memorial site on 7 November 1990. The former headquarters of the GDR secret police remain open to the public. Mielke’s office, the work areas of his closest staff, a large conference room and the casino are today a museum at an authentic site.
"Haus 1" was reopened in January 2012 following extensive renovations. In addition to the original rooms of the minister, two other levels with the exhibitions created by ASTAK e.V. and the Stasi Records Archive are also open to visitors.
Exhibition: "Access to Secrecy"
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.
Assisting with Presentations
We are happy to offer pupils assistance with their school projects. The Stasi archives contain many interesting, and at times disconcerting documents that could be useful for presentations, term papers and school competitions. For a presentation on the Stasi you could choose a very special topic.
Since the Stasi intervened in many different areas of GDR life, there are many subjects to choose from, for example the "unofficial collaborators", known as IM. These were informers who spied on their friends and acquaintances and reported very personal information to the Stasi. Escape attempts from the GDR is another interesting topic. Many people who tried to escape were caught and arrested. The Stasi covered up any deaths that occurred at the Berlin Wall. But today the Stasi documents provide information about them.
Our archives offer extensive material about these and other topics. Since applying to view files on individual topics and looking through all the records is a time-consuming process, we have selected a few cases and prepared these especially for pupils to use. Most of the documents concern teenagers who drew the attention of the GDR secret police. In once case from the 1980s, three teenagers from Rostock wrote their view of the GDR on buildings. The Stasi regarded this as a subversive act and arrested the teenagers.
We have compiled cases like this in the publication series "Quellen für die Schule". This publication and other teaching material are available in German in Bereich "Bildungsmaterialien".
Assisting with Term Papers and Competitions
Term papers and school competitions demand a more intense study of the subject. They also require working with scholarly texts and citing sources correctly. Our scholars have been researching the Stasi for many years and their publications can be useful when writing a term paper. The MfS Handbook, which consists of several volumes, is highly recommended. It provides an overview of the different subject areas that are currently being researched here. We are also happy to help pupils who are preparing to take part in a competition.
Pupils and students can also research the Stasi files directly. To do this requires submitting a "research request". Unfortunately these requests often take a long time to process and may entail fees. The subject of inquiry should be clearly delineated in the request so that we can process the application faster. It is also important to submit a letter from the school or if you are participating in the Federal President’s history competition, to enclose a copy of the "Spurensucherpass" with your request.
Resources for Teachers
The Stasi Records Archive supports teachers teaching about GDR history. In accordance with the agency’s special educational mission, its focus is on repression and intimidation by the Stasi as well as on the opposition and resistance of courageous citizens. We offer teachers training seminars and lectures with practice-oriented suggestions for classroom teaching as well as assistance with project days.
Please note: All our material is in German only.
Project Days
The education staff is available to help teachers prepare and supervise special events for their pupils. Simple lectures or many-day projects and workshops are possible. The events can also combine introductory lectures, independent pupil work on selected sources and conversations with contemporary witnesses. We make selected Stasi documents available for this purpose. We also offer tours through the archives and visits to the exhibitions of the Stasi Records Archive.
The training seminars and project days usually take place in Berlin in the Project Workshop located at the historical site of the former Stasi headquarters. Please contact us to arrange the location, length and scope of the event.
Teaching Materials
The Stasi Records Archive provides printed material, audio and video recordings as well as downloads for project days and lessons. The material includes teaching guides with suggestions for lessons, work material for pupils as well as an educational film. A special resource is provided by "Quellen für die Schule" An overview of the available material is found under the heading "Bildungsmaterialien".
Transparencies for the Classroom
The transparencies and accompanying texts provided here can help teachers illustrate the distinctive features, structure and methods of the GDR State Security in the classroom. The material includes ten transparencies for an overhead-projector or for Power Point presentations and comprehensive background texts. Transparencies for the classroom can be downloaded in various formats.
Material for Lessons
The Stasi Records Archive provides printed material, audio and video recordings as well as downloads for project days and teaching lessons. The material includes teaching guides with suggestions for lessons, work material for pupils as well as an educational film. A special resource is provided by "Materalien für die Schule" on our German Website.
Contact the Education Team
If your are interested in any of the above mentioned services please contact us.
