Stasi Museum - Research Center and Memorial at Normannenstraße

The numerous exhibits of the Stasi Museum are a journey into the repressive stranglehold of the police state, the activities of the State Security and aspects of the GDR political system as well as resistance and opposition movements.

The headquarters of the former "Stasi", the infamous GDR Ministry for State Security, were located in the very building which today houses the Stasi Museum. The building was occupied by demonstrators on January 15, 1990 and a citizen’s committee initiated the disbanding of the former Stasi, gradually transforming this building into a memorial, museum and archive for posterity. Today, the museum offers a truly impressive perspective into one of the most chilling institutions of the Cold War.

Behind the scenes of the GDR's secret police

On the first floor of the building, visitors learn how the Ministry of State Security found its beginnings and gradually developed. The institution was established shortly after the founding of the GDR. Visitors also get an insight into the selection of Stasi employees. On the second floor, visitors can time travel back in time into the offices of Erich Mielke, the last GDR minister for State Security, which have been preserved in their original state. From here, Mielke led the Stasi for over 30 years.

Original technology for spying on GDR citizens

The permanent exhibition on the third floor deals with the working methods of the Ministry for State Security. It is full of original Stasi artefacts including its infamous surveillance devices hidden in most extraordinary places. The numerous exhibits are a journey into the repressive stranglehold of the police state, the activities of the State Security and aspects of the GDR political system as well as resistance and opposition movements. Visitors can discover original memorabilia such as a prisoner transport van, hidden infra-red cameras for night photography, and containers to disguise and transport weapons. The various means and methods used to monitor the population as well as the profound influence of the Stasi on all areas of life are vividly illustrated.

An English language booklet is available for background information and guided tours.

160 kilometers of secret dossiers

The actual Stasi files are kept in a central archive in Berlin. About 160 kilometers of Stasi documents including files, dossiers, index-cards and audio tapes were left behind by the Stasi. They contain information on about 6 million people, although the exact number of people under surveillance is unknown.