Stasi Museum (ASTAK Research and Memorial Site)

The Stasi H.Q. in the Lichtenberg district of Berlin is a giant complex of buildings around Normannenstrasse, which became synonymous with East German state security. Following a demonstration on Jan. 15, 1990, an angry mob stormed the H.Q. of the Ministry of State Security, the infamous and ubiquitous "Stasi." The demonstrators discovered enormous quantities of documents, many of which were destroyed by the mob. A citizen's committee was set up to prevent any further destruction so that the documents could be saved for later study. One week later the Round Table decided to set up a body to research violation of human rights in the GDR. This body became known as ASTAK, an abbreviation of the German for "Anti- Stalinist Action Berlin-Normannenstrasse." The "Stasi Museum" was opened on Nov. 7, 1991, in the rooms formerly occupied by the secret police. Entrance to the Museum is in Ruschestrasse (not in Normannenstrasse!). At the end of a large courtyard lies House 1, which was the Stasi H.Q. since 1963, with the original offices of the Stasi chief Erich Mielke, conference rooms and other offices. Along the stairs, corridors and some other rooms visitors can see spying apparatus, flags, medals, busts, photos and documents recording the storming of the building in 1990 and the forced displacement of people along Germany's borders.