Stasi
Staatssicherheit (common term for State Security; abbreviation for the Ministry for State Security of the GDR)
 

Aufgabe
The Ministry for State Security of the GDR is charged with secret activities and espionage, oversight over the GDR population, and the fight against political resistance against the SED regime.

Mitglieder
In the 1980’s the Ministry includes about 85,000 headquarters officials. In addition there is a large number of so-called “unofficial collaborators” who work for the State Security Service as volunteers or under coercion.

Struktur
The Ministry, as the “leading organ of the dictatorship of the proletariat”, is closely tied to and directed by the SED.

Tätigkeiten
In 1990 the Service is dissolved in the course of the collapse of the DDR. The activities of the Ministry are being investigated by the Federal Central Office (“Gauck Office”) headquartered in Berlin.