35 Years Later: Reflecting on the Stasi Headquarters Occupation in East Germany

The 1990 storming of the Stasi headquarters marked a pivotal moment in the peaceful revolution, securing crucial records and leaving a complex legacy.

On January 15, 1990, thousands of East Germans occupied the Stasi headquarters in Berlin, symbolically dismantling the feared secret police of the former DDR.
The occupation preserved 111 kilometers of Stasi files, marking the first comprehensive opening of secret police records worldwide and aiding the investigation of the SED dictatorship.
The event highlighted deep societal divides, with ongoing tensions between East and West Germans over the Stasi's legacy and its impact on personal and political lives.
The Stasi files have since been accessed over 7.5 million times, offering transparency, aiding victim reconciliation, but also revealing betrayals and causing public controversies.
Historians and officials emphasize the importance of educating younger generations about the Stasi's abuses, countering misinformation, and reinforcing democratic values.