Access to Secrecy. Guided Exhibition Tour of the Stasi Records Archive

The Stasi Records Archive has its origins in the Peaceful Revolution. Courageous citizens saved the files of the East German secret police from destruction and pushed for quick access to them. Since 1992, the records of repression have served as a source of enlightenment. The exhibition tour illustrates how the Stasi operated and how its files are used today.

"A Monument to Surveillance": The Stasi Records Archive holds 111 kilometers of files, many of which contain personal data about individuals—collected by the state. The exhibition "Access to Secrecy" helps to make the significance of this archive clear.

Before the tour, you have the opportunity to visit our sample records collection. This consists of reproductions of original Stasi documents. In addition to case files and personnel records of Stasi officers, you will also find files of affected individuals. These individuals have agreed to the publication of their files, making "Access to Secrecy" possible.