exploring berlin | stasi museum
A few weeks ago on a very snowy Sunday afternoon, Andreas and I ventured east to Lichtenberg to visit the Stasi Museum. The museum is housed in the former Stasi Headquarters building which was stormed by protesters on January 15, 1990 during the collapse of the GDR. When it became clear the East German government was going to fall, Stasi officials had holed themselves up in the building destroying and shredding Stasi documents and after the some of the shredders broke from overuse, the officials continued to shred the papers by hand. The protesters believed those documents, many of which detailed the personal lives of GDR citizens, should have been available to the people and been made public. Since 1995, a team of people in Zirndorf outside of Nuremberg, has been working to piece back together by hand, the 15,500 sacks of paper which were recovered. A fascinating article was written in the Guardian detailing the documents and the efforts to piece them back together, read it here.
a camera which was disguised as a button. The wide array of hidden cameras displayed in the museum are fascinating (especially for photography nerds, like me), there was even a camera hidden inside a watering can. The great lengths the Stasi went to spy on the citizens of East Germany is unbelievable (and really sad).
Infrared flash cannot be seen by the human eye, but can be used to photograph subjects at night without being seen. Infrared flashes were hidden in the doors of this car to photograph along the roads. The watch was used as a recording device.
one of the most well known parts of the museum is the office of the last Minister of State Security, Erich Mielke. His office and those of his colleagues have been restored and are pretty much exactly as they were left over 20 years ago.
Stasi Museum Berlin
Ruschestraße 103, Haus 1
10365 Berlin
exploring berlin is a series following my explorations of my adopted home city.
*Note to non-German speaking visitors, most of the text in the museum is NOT translated. There is a LOT of text to read, detailing the history of the Stasi and the GDR government and those who stood up against it. Although I do think for those who don’t understand German, it would still be really interesting, I just wanted to write a little warning to prepare you.
18 Comments
Lena
February 7, 2013Piecing together all those documents for more than decade–what an incredible project. This is such a fascinating, heartbreaking monument.
Kristina
February 7, 2013This museum seems to be so fascinating. I’m going to put it on my to do list for “things I’ll do once I live in Berlin” ;-) So glad it’s finally happening! Anyway, two years ago I visited Berlin with my high school AP History class and we went to the Gedenkstätte Hohenschönhausen. Have you been there? If not, you should check it out. It’s an old Stasi prison and it’s really fascinating to see. But fascinating in a really sad and heartbreaking way. We were a really fun and chatty class but after visiting the museum we pretty much remained silent all the way back to our hostel. It was so much to process and there really weren’t any “right” words to express what we were feeling. I’d still recommend visiting it though if one is interested in this part of German history.
Ashley Ludaescher
February 8, 2013I did visit the Hohenschönhausen Prison last year and was blown away by the tour and the tour guide’s story: http://chasingheartbeats.com/exploring-berlin-gedenkstatte-hohenschonhausen/
I always recommend for visitors to go there and learn about the very recent and very sad history of this city.
Kristina
February 7, 2013Will definitely visit this museum next time I am in Berlin. First of all the history of East Germany and the unbelievable spy activity is really interesting, second of all, I love the interior of this place :) I have a couple of friends from former East Germany who experienced the Stasi spying activity against their families first hand – it makes me so sad to think about it! I only hope that all the documents can be recovered and that they will be made public!
Great shots Ashley!!
Kristina x
Eileen
February 8, 2013I went to the Gedenkstätte Berlin-Hohenschönhausen about a month and a half ago, and that was a crazy experience, as well! I would really recommend it as people who were actually prisoners lead the tours.
It’s really hard to believe the amount of security and surveillance that went on during the time period, especially how they kept scent records of everyone. This definitely made me want to go to the Stasi Museum, as well (It also looks way easier to get to than the Gedenkstätte…)
Prêt à Voyager / Anne
February 8, 2013This is so fascinating, and no joke about that button camera. In a way it reminds me of scenes from Argo.
Jay
February 8, 2013I certainly must come back to Berlin. I cannot get over how much there is to see and learn in that city and so much of it is completely fascinating!
Lindsey
February 8, 2013So much of Berlin is at once eery and fascinating and this is no exception! Everything from the architecture to the retro interior feels a bit haunting but I find that to be true for most derelict spaces in Europe. And I agree with Anne, reminded me of Argo too!
Daryl
February 8, 2013I find this part of German history so fascinating and heartbreaking. Have you seen Das Leben der Andere?
Josephine
February 8, 2013Would this museum house the same organization that was part of the movie _The Lives of Others_? I loved the movie, despite it being really disturbing and sad. I’m really impressed by how warm and bright the museum looks in your photography.
Ellen
February 9, 2013As a Dutchie I know the stories. Must be so alienating to see it in real life…
Pati Mo
February 10, 2013seems like a really cool place!
Susan
February 11, 2013I will certainly be calling on you when we finally get to Berlin…missing you a bit in the cyber world. Hugs! xo
Mandi | No Apathy Allowed
February 12, 2013I visited the museum last summer and it was beyond fascinating, and pretty unbelievable to see the extent the GDR went to keep tabs on their own citizens. Although most of the museum is in German, you can arrange an English-speaking tour guide ahead of time — which is well worth it! It’s so incredible when you can have someone who lived through this period of history tell you the stories behind the exhibits.
Jess {JessinBelgium}
February 14, 2013I knew I should have studied German in school. I’m glad you’ve given us a little glimpse inside! Must plan another trip to Berlin soon. I want to see the bust of Nefertiti at the Neues Museum.
molly yeh
February 15, 2013this looks great! i just found your blog and i wish i had known about it last year– i spent some time in berlin in july and i loved it. i only want to eat amerikaners right now :-P OH and the falafel you got there is also tooooo good.
Katherine
February 17, 2013As others have mentioned, after seeing “The Lives of the Others” I’d be really interested to see this museum. Next time I make it up to Berlin, which is long overdue anyway! :)
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