Stasi Files: The Lives of Others | Journal Reporter

DW-TV reporter Georg Matthes is searching through the files of the former East German secret police.

[@Bulletguy07]

I met an East German guy who accessed his Stasi file......only to find his own sister had been an informant. He's never spoke to her since.

[@notmyname2170]

Oh wow...Do you happen to know more about it?

[@JAF1323]

That’s horrible. It’s insane what people will do when they’re in that much fear. I heard a story about someone who was very active in the east German resistance. After the wall came down, she found out that her own husband was an informant. She had been arrested several times and had had a lot of stuff happened to her because of the fact that she was in the resistance. At that time, she never knew who was spying on her. I can’t imagine finding out that someone you were close to was spying on you. In other communist countries, parents turned In children and children and their parents. It seems to be that the desire to keep yourself alive outweighs everything else in that kind of a situation. I feel badly for the guy who found out that his sister was in forming on him, as do why the wife who found out that her husband was informing on her.

[@filippocorti6760]

Interesting

[@theinfeno]

I honestly can't blame someone never talking to a sibling or spouse if they where a Stasi informant. I never even lived under this kind of tyranny, at least not yet. I just feel like murder would be justified for being a Stasi and betraying your friends for the sake of the state. The whole thing is just evil, in a way like not other.

[@DivinitySaid]

@@theinfeno - i liked this, then thought... should i like this? damnit America. Now i gotta go suffer through some liberal drab to correct my social algorithm. ❤️🤍💙

[@casualagent7250]

The movie, Lives of Others is a must watch, especially the last scene 😢

[@lovelessissimo]

In English, "Stasi" is roughly translated as "Facebook".

[@wictoriaolofsson2714]

Facebook Mossads lol 😂🤣

[@svenfigueroa312]

menckencynic and add all those “suicides” thanks to facebook...

[@aabb-zz9uw]

No."South Korea" is an exact translation. The centralised video surveillance network was copied in digital form by Korea.

[@Dweller415]

😂😂😂😂

[@annettehadley9718]

Goodness... I never knew that !

[@Ffsdevgj]

There are no words to describe the horrific and despicable acts of evil that all this represents. Some Humans are like truly monsters.

[@kipperedbeef2084]

ya I'm about to defect lol

[@peterhansa6705]

There are apparently still so many Stasi Officers - even those that committed horrendous torture and crimes - free and never got prosecuted. Seems majority did not even care about those perpetrators. This must be unbearable for the victims.

[@Dutch_Uncle]

DEUTSCH: Gibt es Faelle wo Stasiopfer den Stasiispitzel ermoerdert haben? Oder angegriffen? I got my Stasi file, and it tells more about them than it does about me. They were convinced that I was up to something, and lack of evidence was not persuasive, it just seemed to push them more. I did not suffer. It is irritating, but there I am prserved for eternity in the Stasiakten. However, I am amazed that none of the German subjects seem to have reacted violently against those who betrayed them. Has anyone heard about informants being killed or injured by those they reported on? Seen through US eyes, I am amazed that there is no body count.

[@mlovmo]

Same in Cambodia. Cadres who tortured and murdered during the time of "Democratic Kampuchea" are walking around unpunished.

[@About37Hobos]

And the USA, China, and most modern countries have just as much information on their citizens with digital surveillance and nobody seems to care

[@jekke1980]

Who needs the Stasi when you have facebook?

[@kirstinetermansen7234]

Hi hi funny. Are you You wash mashined, tv, or car might even know more

[@wictoriaolofsson2714]

..or your smartphone! 😂

[@user-xd4rs6vr4n]

you mean "lifelog"?

[@andrewmcphee8965]

So true...Facebook holds all the secrets of your life, if you let it.

[@snicky58]

Good point.

[@stevedemarest276]

Even THIS was overcome. It's a testament to the human desire for liberty.

[@mikekannely2286]

I wish that this history was taught in college.

[@Mrpublicimagelimited]

That elevator @ 4:04 has to be one of the most dangerous-looking contraptions I've ever seen..

[@patrickilmoni9380]

It looks a lot more terrible than it actually is, theres a crude safety-mechanism that stops it immediately if the whole gizmo gets stuck somewhere by somethin or someone. But.. I wouldnt want to test it personnally :D One can sometimes still find those I cant remember what their called, in old department stores personnel areas and some offices.

[@henkiware2490]

they are called paternoster.

[@patrickilmoni9380]

Henkiware2 Yep, Thanks !

[@keijo8238]

It's safe when used with common sense

[@touraneindanke]

Your Prioriteit is questionable 🍌

[@OffGridInvestor]

And 2 YEARS LATER they started reassembling those shredded documents. There's now (2019ish) computer software around that does it in incredibly fast time.

[@lesliesmith3580]

So pleased that there is an agency/archives for people to find out (if they choose) about the torture/sadistic behaviour and lies the Stasi inflicted. I hope knowing the truth for the former prisoners empowers them

[@ezrathegreatconqueror]

Leslie Smith Long live Stasi

[@thomashall4886]

@@ezrathegreatconqueror Idiotic comment

[@natnik27]

"All man-made big disasters started with one mad man's obsession with money and power and his ability to corrupt others". Marin Pitu

[@wictoriaolofsson2714]

Yeep the rise of the Kapitalist state..

[@ct-xw9dj]

Wictoria Olofsson Isn’t the stasi work against the capitalist?

[@TheWarsuron]

@@wictoriaolofsson2714 corporatist

[@TheWarsuron]

@@ct-xw9dj yes they were communists

[@innocentdissident441]

Funny how history repeats itself.

[@_Abra_Kadabra_]

Shouldn't we, more importantly, have the right to access the files that exist on us all TODAY?

[@jimpickins7900]

If you live in the EU or UK, Australia, newzealand, or Canada you can.

[@caroleannhowell6164]

Imagine if they would have had today;s technology. So this is what we have to look forward to and worse.

[@poodtang2104]

That boat has already sailed.

[@TheWarsuron]

It is still going on today, but nw they are using brain interfacing tech

[@inserthere6387]

So true

[@marajevomanash]

They can manipulate entire populations into systematically stalking and harassing you using remote mind-control technology and AI.

[@Dutch_Uncle]

A major reason why East Germany failed as that the wall did not stop radio or television waves. My call is that the diversity of modern electronics would have hastened the fall.

[@MrHarryt8]

Very interesting information on this despicable organisation.

[@uradragon7823]

We have our own despicable organization here in America, it is a copy of the Stasi. Look up DHS/Walmart and ask yourself if it stopped at one box store.

[@rnj4209]

?

[@dalegribble1560]

STASI is an example why the 2nd Amendment exists in America.

[@halitosis75]

Fascinating doco

[@marksmith5106]

Perhaps one person will get something out of this but I'm going through something like this right now and I'm right here in the good old US of A. The Stasi had a reputation of being the most powerful and effective police force ever because it wasn't just about surveillance it was about what they could do to you psychologically which is far worse than what they could do to you physically and they figured that out. Guess what, so has this country. I was a whistleblower and I'm not likely to be able to read my file. What I tried to expose was corruption on a local scale but it turns out that all governments cover for each other and people are connected. What happens to you when the program known as organized stalking harassment is you experience a social death and in order to make sure of that your communications are all filtered and you can't go anywhere without somebody being right there with you they will interfere with any of your relationships or perspective relationships; jobs and perspective jobs; and since you're followed 24/7 there's nothing they won't know about you. You will experience total isolation except for when they try and send confederates at you. The true aim is to have you take your own life or to make you so miserable that you just curl up into a ball and wither away. I understand that none of this makes sense to any of you but it's a warning and the program is in its infancy and something that they're going to unleash on the public so just keep it in the back of your mind. You would think would see plethora of platforms that I should be able to get some word out there but some cognitive issues and they do things that are designed just to waste your time and keep you busy with whatever crisis they come up with and there will always be one. Just keep in mind they are aware of wherever you are and whatever you're doing.

[@mike2uleynomad375]

5:52 - "blacking out parts of the document that has nothing to do with the applicant". Why? If the dossier has your name on it you should be able to read it in its full entirety.

[@casualagent7250]

I concur

[@lani6647]

What if you get angry about something written there and go postal

[@Dutch_Uncle]

Youl can read YOUR information, but not that about others , except the ones who re;orted on you.

[@GardenerEarthGuy]

To think that the U.S. government hasn't taken this to a much higher level is to be drinking koolaid.

[@nemesisferrari8537]

So do you believe Stasi dead in 1991 ? No, no , no alike energy, they got transformed

[@NEWYORKLIBRE]

You can't compare the terror that exsisted back then to facebook. Any who makes that comparison should really read more about what the information was used for. Facebook is voluntary so is a smart phone.

[@thepleiadianlightgridproje4337]

Yeah anybody saying that any of these modern technologies is anything like the stasi has totally lost the plot. for better or worse you can't stop technology it's all on how people use it and to compare any of this stuff to those creeps is really deplorable

[@larslarsen1444]

I would like to look for information about the Baader Meinhof gang.

[@pacearrowspeeding]

This is still going on, only now it's far worse. The techniques of this horrible oppressive regime were studied and mastered and now they're being deployed all over the world by an underground network. The term "Gangstalking" was created to discredit anyone talking about this Orwellian nightmare. We need people to start waking up to the fact that this system is now far larger and stronger than it ever was before. It has now not only been deployed on a far larger number of people, it has also largely gone unnoticed due to the stealth techniques that were common place back then that have been studied and perfected today. This is the single biggest threat to freedom in North America and in all of the other First World "Democratic" run countries. We need people to start talking about this and waking up to what's really happening. As long as the true enemy of freedom remains "invisible" they will never be caught.

[@nemesisferrari8537]

They could leave anyone, literally alone, and, so what? Who cares.

[@calska140]

I never considered this. I should see if my paternal grandfather has a file. Thank you.

[@j.martinbermejillo6793]

Why? Was he prosecuted?

[@machida58]

That elevator doesn't look safe.

[@zero_meercat8624]

hajajajajjaajajja

[@touraneindanke]

Your prioriteit is very questionable 🍌

[@poodtang2104]

Yeah I noticed that too : (

[@danielshaw4038]

The United States has its own Stasi. It is called the National Security Agency.

[@byte2702]

@@jamesrkarolchyk1440Agreed. I wonder when the next person writes that America would be comparable to North Korea.

[@byte2702]

@@jamesrkarolchyk1440 Right. South Vietnam does not exist (anymore). There is only Vietnam today. You obviously meant that the Russian-occupied zones of Ukraine are corrupt as Russia itself. Russians are Russians, what do you await there? Anyway, be glad that you live outside of Germany. In Germany, your GDR flag would be forbidden. I also would suggest to watch the film “The Lives of Others”, then you will know why. 😉

[@towardsthelight220]

Homeland Security

[@Wolkebuch99]

It's all the TLAs

[@257796]

Why would you say something so controversial yet so brave

[@timcrompton3427]

Love those German lifts at 4:00 I used one as a teenager, I stayed in it as it went around the top. exciting as I thought I would be crushed. much more interesting than the boring museum it was situated in.

[@masken8355]

Tim Crompton i had one at my preschool

[@smophie6260]

Filip how big was the place?

[@PeterMayer]

We went there are any files on my family. She said it might take a couple years.

[@kingjamesviscotland241]

Crazy stuff.

[@SirGuellefrosch]

NSA= New Stasi of Ameriica

[@giselengalula3175]

You mean AmeriKA

[@granskare]

I was in a support bit in Turkey in the late 50s of the NSA. Too bad you were not alive in those times.

[@candyman5749]

There is an international cabal responsible for this. If we look at the stasi logo, we can see a hammer and compass in this pic. i.ytimg.com/vi/DABfW7akyfE/maxresdefault.jpg This is a Freemasonry symbol. In the Freemasonry logo we see a compass and square in this pic. www.mckim.nescotland.co.uk/Web_SC_BW/SC_BWgoldBlue.png Now what's really frightening, if we look at the Fraternal Order of Police logo in America, we will see more masonry symbols, such as the all seeing eye and Masonic handshake. 2.bp.blogspot.com/--aXpHykeBU4/U2qoJs-WzmI/AAAAAAAAC-k/FQQUJ7F8y3g/s1600/Fraternal+Order+of+Police.jpg

[@contentedbuddha]

The difference is that the NSA will delete the files from their server in a matter of minutes, when the revolution finally begins. There will be nothing left to reminisce for the millions of victims.

[@PeterMayer]

Not even close. Du bist blöd.

[@NostalgiNorden]

Someone needs to tell this man about subtitles

[@peterhansa6705]

... and that is not to say that it could not happen exactly the same way again. Just watch some staff in companies. Short of criminal activities many medium management or assistants to management treat their co workers in ways often bordering abuse. Many stories that could have been from Stasi handbooks: Finding out as much information about them to use it against them, bad mouthing them with superiors, putting undue pressure. It all happens in companies - not only in Germany I am sure but elsewhere too.

[@daventi5677]

I’m watching you

[@StufiBuy]

This is all very interesting but what I REALLY wanna see is the stasi file on Bigfoot.

[@wouldyouliketomeetkenbamba9495]

As morbid as it was, having a file entirely dedicated to you and your life, even though it literally tramples upon the very notion of privacy, has a bit of charm in it.

[@videosuperhighway7655]

Facebook before the internet.

[@davidstrohl]

Moved to the federal archives last year, 2021.

[@unsignedmusic]

They should put the entire archive on the internet.

[@friesensdiecastcollection2734]

These are personal documents in the archive. You can only read you're own files, what the STASI were researching about you! In the first step the archivists researching, if there are existing documents or files about you. In step two the documents about a person are only opened for this person and not for everybody on the internet.

[@acoustic5738]

No way untill spied people are still alive. This holds very personal data.

[@sutherlandA1]

Yet they're are still many from the former East Germany who wish for the old days of the GDR known as ostalgie

[@ottomeyer6928]

how many people were executiert? hingerichtet?

[@bnkundwa]

We need to work on accepting talent.

[@jacktaylor5937]

The old good days! When security and safety used to be a primary concern for politicians!

[@Ar0n13]

Imagine? Look at the NSA, it's already happening.

[@videosuperhighway7655]

Cancel culture before the internet.

[@Odin33356]

It's too bad history repeats . No wonder zombies are so popular.

[@kirstinetermansen7234]

Copenhagen, walls.... Or. Walls being. Torture wictims. Same

[@chrisbrown8640]

Does anyone know if the Stasi every got hold of any Gestapo files , just curious ...

[@chrisbrown8640]

@Dan Didnot That makes you wonder if any ex- Gestapo men ever got to work for the Stasi ?

[@kirstinetermansen7234]

Wonder how they. Wrote, film, taped.......

[@smophie6260]

Kirstine Termansen they taped citizens via pinholes

[@markvolker1145]

Oh yes the joys of Socialism!

[@aw8079]

This wasn't socialism. The fire department is socialism. Public lending libraries are socialism. The is Totalitarianism. Fascism if you prefer. A police state.

[@kipperedbeef2084]

@@aw8079 it's systematically enforced socialism. best thing to do is create socialist communities within a free market society so this doesn't happen.. socialism is only good if it's voluntary... allow people to create their own anarchist communes within an anarcho capitalist society....the state has been the most deadliest apparatus in all of human history

[@joshuabelding5013]

How come all the women have short hair?

[@smophie6260]

Joshua Belding must’ve been the trend

[@dietmarbitterlich3500]

Same as in the USA now.

[@mtavares9260]

Not the same, you've learned nothing

[@doramilitiakatiemelody1875]

My mom has her files from the Stasi

[@smophie6260]

Pamela Militia Katie Melody my reaction is your prof pic

[@doramilitiakatiemelody1875]

@@smophie6260 ok

[@qwertyu8832]

Just wait for psychologists to create the plot to minority report xD

[@stefanjouef5079]

It's exactly the same in the US now, so what??

[@lasvegassnowman5505]

Stasi?? Well where are they now right amogst us cia , mossad, mi 6, former KGB

[@kevanphillips]

Good little German, redacting files to this day.

[@vinadamayanti8986]

Y

[@ernabeier8325]

Everybody who things that the Stasi is the same as Facebook: You are free to use Facebook. You are free to decide wich information you give to Facebook. Facebook comes not to your appartment, except you own one of this "modern machines wich tell you what weather we have". Facebook is not your father, wife or best friend who betrays your secrets to your enemies. Facebook don't hits you or take away your children or poison you because of a different opinion. And the biggest differenc: You are free to leave Facebook. So do not compare them.

[@festusbojangles7027]

yes. facebook can actually be used for active measures. it can be used to actively mentally torture you or make your close friends hate you. and facebook owns whatsapp and many other apps you cannot easily escape facebook if you are on line.

[@sootzbitz7770]

by redacting the files that woman is acting like the stasi

[@sharefactor]

No

[@sootzbitz7770]

@@sharefactor do explain

[@nenad-seguljev]

one day in nsa :)

[@JeanySullivan]

Ah, the Stasi, the little sister of the NSA.

[@GreedPainLove]

Socialism sure is beautiful

[@greenknitter]

Totalitarianism is not socialism.

[@carrauntoohil86]

@@greenknitter you can not create a socialist state without having the state enforce it. Socialism inevitably leads to totalitarianism.

[@greenknitter]

@@carrauntoohil86 You should tell that to the Kurds in Rojava. The Spanish Revolution likewise didn't have a state behind it yet was a socialist revolution. You've heard of Anarchism? anti-state socialism.

[@carrauntoohil86]

@@greenknitter socialism can work on a small scale, but it's not compatible with human behaviour in mass democracies.

[@greenknitter]

@@carrauntoohil86 3 million people in Spain was not small scale and it wouldn't have worked if it wasn't compatible with human behaviour.

[@kirstinetermansen7234]

Is Sander Clinton on map

[@gsvictim1301]

the stassi is alive and well in america.

[@dariusznowak405]

R.I.P. Free Germany 1949-1989 .

[@smophie6260]

Dariusz Nowak nothing like secret informants documenting your every move, very free.

[@PissG]

kurwa moment

[@marajevomanash]

@@smophie6260 It's even worse now with technologies like remote neural monitoring documenting your every thought, sight and hearing.