Stasi
Stasi Uniform DDR
The Stasi was the official state security service of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). It has been described as one of the most effective and repressive intelligence and secret police agencies ever to have existed.
The Stasi was headquartered in East Berlin; its motto was Shield and Sword of the Party, referring to the ruling Socialist Unity Party of Germany and also echoing a theme of the KGB, the Soviet counterpart and close partner. Erich Mielke was the Stasi's longest-serving chief, in power for 32 of the GDR's 40 years of existence.
One of its main tasks was spying on the population, mainly through a vast network of citizens turned informants. It was also responsible for both espionage and for conducting covert operations in foreign countries. The Stasi also maintained contacts, and occasionally cooperated, with Western terrorists.
Numerous Stasi officials were prosecuted for their crimes after 1990, following German reunification.
The Stasi was headquartered in East Berlin; its motto was Shield and Sword of the Party, referring to the ruling Socialist Unity Party of Germany and also echoing a theme of the KGB, the Soviet counterpart and close partner. Erich Mielke was the Stasi's longest-serving chief, in power for 32 of the GDR's 40 years of existence.
One of its main tasks was spying on the population, mainly through a vast network of citizens turned informants. It was also responsible for both espionage and for conducting covert operations in foreign countries. The Stasi also maintained contacts, and occasionally cooperated, with Western terrorists.
Numerous Stasi officials were prosecuted for their crimes after 1990, following German reunification.
Stasi adapted from Wikipedia and licensed by The Cultural Me under CC BY SA 3.0