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Thread: #OTD in 1950, the Ministerium für Staatssicherheit* was created by the Volkskammer of the German Democratic Republic, only 4 months after the DDR itself was founded. This is a thread to highlight some of its associated organs.
* Ministry for State Security/ MfS/ StaSi
* Ministry for State Security/ MfS/ StaSi
Deutsche Grenzpolizei
Between May 1952 to June 1953, the German Border Police were temporarily taken from the Ministry of the Interior & placed under the command of the MfS. After 1961, the DGP became the Grenztruppen der DDR in the NVA- the MfS still had their informers however.
Between May 1952 to June 1953, the German Border Police were temporarily taken from the Ministry of the Interior & placed under the command of the MfS. After 1961, the DGP became the Grenztruppen der DDR in the NVA- the MfS still had their informers however.
Wachregiment Feliks E. Dzierzynski
Originally formed as Wachbataillon A beim MfS in 1951, it was named after the Cheka/OGPU leader in 1967. This unit guarded all MfS installations. They were also tasked with restoring public order & did so in 1953 helping to suppress the uprising
Originally formed as Wachbataillon A beim MfS in 1951, it was named after the Cheka/OGPU leader in 1967. This unit guarded all MfS installations. They were also tasked with restoring public order & did so in 1953 helping to suppress the uprising
Hauptverwaltung Aufklärung (HVA)
The Main Directorate for Reconnaissance was founded in 1955. They were responsible for espionage and surveillance in foreign military & civilian institutions. By 1989, they had 1500 unofficial informers in West Germany.
Bild: rbb/ARD/BStU
The Main Directorate for Reconnaissance was founded in 1955. They were responsible for espionage and surveillance in foreign military & civilian institutions. By 1989, they had 1500 unofficial informers in West Germany.
Bild: rbb/ARD/BStU
Kommerzielle Koordinierung/ KoKo
With roots to smuggling operations in the 1950s, Commercial Coordination was officially founded in 1966. Its aim was to raise foreign currency to help boost the economy of the DDR. Between 1966 and 1989, it raised nearly 25 billion DM.
Bild: BA
With roots to smuggling operations in the 1950s, Commercial Coordination was officially founded in 1966. Its aim was to raise foreign currency to help boost the economy of the DDR. Between 1966 and 1989, it raised nearly 25 billion DM.
Bild: BA
Sportvereinigung (SV) Dynamo
To boost the prestige of the DDR, sports trainers, supervised by members of the StaSi, doped athletes in the Dynamo Sports Association, both knowingly and unknowningly, between 1971 and 1989. Only 1 athlete was ever disqualified
(Bd: Werner Schulze)
To boost the prestige of the DDR, sports trainers, supervised by members of the StaSi, doped athletes in the Dynamo Sports Association, both knowingly and unknowningly, between 1971 and 1989. Only 1 athlete was ever disqualified
(Bd: Werner Schulze)
This is only a short thread, but its aim is to show that the StaSi operated on many different levels, other than extreme public surveillance often associated.
