East German KGB - Rise of Stasi - COLD WAR DOCUMENTARY

Get access to more than 3000 documentaries: curiositystream.thld.co/theco...
Our historical documentary series on the history of the Cold War continues with a video on the East German Ministry for State Security, more commonly known as Stasi. This East German version of the KGB was a staple of the Cold War period and was known for its brutal methods.
Support us on Patreon: / thecoldwar or Paypal: paypal.me/TheColdWar
✔ Merch store ► teespring.com/stores/thecoldwar
✔ Patreon ► / thecoldwar
✔ Facebook ► / thecoldwartv
✔ Instagram ► / thecoldwartv
#ColdWar #Stasi #KGB

[@mardasman428]

Both my stepmother and his ex-husband had a Stasi file. Almost every East German citizen had one, the only question was, how long was it? The presence of the Stasi was just destroying all trust in people. You could never really know who was an informant for the Stasi and who wasn't, up until 1990. After the fall of the dictatorship in 1990 lots of these files were recovered and were opened to the public. People could get insights into their own file, many did so. Many others just plain refused to view their file because they knew exactly that it would reveal that one of the people in their close cycle might be an "IM" (unofficial collaborator) working for the Stasi. It was actually quite common to find out that you literally slept with an informant of the Stasi surveilling you: Your husband or wife. It really destroyed trust in people, especially for those who were opposed to the Stasi.

[@-Seeker-]

Same here in Hungary with the ÁVH (Államvédelmi Hatóság - State Defense Authority). Informants everywhere and a bad word about the benevolent leaders or liberators could see an end to your career or life. During the 1956 revolution AVH agents were hanged on lamp posts because the people hated them that much. After the 1956 revolution they waited until minors who took part in the uprising reached the age of 18 to convict and execute them. And many other similar actions..

[@hadirahman3036]

@@-Seeker- avh was dissolvedafter 1956...there were no secret police in Hungary after that....however there were secret agents but on a much smaller scale...

[@-Seeker-]

@@hadirahman3036 Yes I should've clarified that.

[@fetijajasari6624]

@Osman Oglu That's not right! The spying system on their own people was equal in Nazi-Germany, Faschist Hungary, Stalin Soviet Union,latter Soviet Union, in the states of the Warsaw Pact, in all authoritarian states and, not as open , in democratic countries, if the leader of the defence systems were more authoritarian,like Hoover. The systems used the same principles: spreading of fear, distrust and insecurity among their own people to control them. So,as someone who lived or had relatives who lived in some of these systems,please don't write more loopsided comments, but look deeper into things!

[@fetijajasari6624]

@Osman Oglu You are very disrespectful! Why? Because I said something that does not fit into your small world view? Grow up, kid!

[@Idahoguy10157]

Stasi would be very jealous of what Google and the NSA does

[@thearousedeunuch]

Jealous is an understatement. They would love to check out China's surveillance system for sure.

[@jamdolo92]

lmao

[@pg955203]

@@thearousedeunuch china is a child when it comes to surveillance in the US. People PAY to get their information taken and still adamantly defend it. China got nothing on NSA.

[@johnnyd5687]

And screwtube

[@EarthPoweredHippie]

Lmao, it's funny cuz it's true 😆 🤣 😂

[@yourstruly4817]

All you have to tell the Stasi is your name. They already know where you live.

[@johnl.7754]

Today they would know your IP address

[@mohamedayaan1068]

They know your face they dont need your name

[@Tundra1919]

That's the same for any intelligence organization

[@sidewalks29]

Just like Hong Kong Today.

[@Kerys23a]

Good

[@sarrebal]

The Stasi was the same as the KGB, but run by Germans (who are very meticulous people). That made it the most terrifying state agency ever created.

[@richardque4952]

According to the kgb.the stasi are more efficient .by the 70s kgb actually seeking stasi for advise.

[@neilfoster814]

I believe (but I may be wrong) that many STASI agents were ex Gestapo operatives!

[@sj-bg4up]

@@neilfoster814 you’re wrong. East Germany purged the fascist from all occupations including teachers lol. They wouldn’t have had gestapo officers in the stasi

[@dannysummers4591]

@@neilfoster814 yes, and they even used the same playbook

[@troy2286]

​@@neilfoster814 Even the famed Nazi Hunter Simon Wiesenthal acknowledged that when it came to oppressing their own people the Stasi was worse than the Gestapo. He even stated that they wouldn't cooperate with Nazi hunters because the Stasi blackmailed and recruited Nazi war criminals for their intelligence gathering.

[@oldesertguy9616]

I still vividly remember hearing about the Stasi, KGB, etc and it just seems weird to think an awful lot of people have grown up without the Iron Curtain being a fact of life.

[@brentsrx7]

The gender of my emotions is so much more important than what old people did.

[@lawrencedye6514]

@@brentsrx7 it's not about you Binary following fools!

[@jorenvanderark3567]

​@brentsrx7 "Oh no, people living their lives" let me comment on that in every single thread that's even remotely somehow connected to that. Jesus christ how utterly pathetic can you possibly get?

[@edalder2000]

The Stasi was one of the most infamous “State Police” that existed.

[@mr.patriotjol]

Now adays, they’re just a glorified crew

[@thechekist2044]

"Infamous" for western Fascist spies and traitors yes.

[@urhsusnikvrecic1478]

@@savagedarksider5934 *rings phone* Me: Hello, tovarisch; I'd like to make a R E P O R T

[@thechekist2044]

@@savagedarksider5934 He's dead. So is the monarchy.

[@thechekist2044]

@@savagedarksider5934 He's dead.

[@Vellisipsi]

"Subverted the bell button"... The bell button is now the peoples property

[@thechekist2044]

People's property? Based.

[@j.peters1222]

The Stasi were probably the most feared intelligence organization in the Eastern bloc and for good reason. They were good at what they did.

[@herptek]

They had so extensive a network of informants that it could be considered a social class all by its own. A huge portion of east German population was tied to it directly.

[@MisterTipp]

Anyone even remotely interested on this subject has to watch “the lives of others”, it’s an incredible film!

[@gerberjoanne266]

I agree! I saw the film, as well.

[@andynixon2820]

Yes it's brilliant .

[@throwback19841]

When I saw that film I told a German friend I also felt sad for the stasi guy at the end. She rebuked me and said "don't feel sorry for him! He's a Stasi asshole!". I have been sure to remember that ever since.

[@paudsmcmack3117]

One of the best films ever!

[@user-hu3fb7xc8e]

what's it about

[@mikewatkinson1996]

Nice. There's a definite lack of Stasi documentaries on KZbin. Thanks for the vid.

[@TheColdWarTV]

More to come!

[@milominderbinder6209]

@@TheColdWarTV More on STASI ?! Great.

[@schusterlehrling]

In German there are a lot.

[@ProleCenter]

@@schusterlehrling But are they objective or just anti-communist propaganda?

[@0rangevlad]

I didn't know this channel was a thing. glad I found it.

[@TorinStein]

I found out about Operation Gladio while on Wikipedia and I found this channel when I looked it up. I've binged so many of their videos in the last day haha.

[@noobster4779]

When the DDR fell the StaSi Chef Mielke was summoned to the communist parlament to anwser for accusations. He went there with a suitcase. When he was pushed into a corner by the inquiary he said that the content of his suitcase could bring all of them down because he had black mail on all of them. He also said "I love all humans" when he was critizised for calling the fellow parlament members "Comrades" :D "Fun" fact: Mielke was convicted of no crime done by the StaSi. He was after the fall of the DDR convicted for a crime he did during Weimar germany and was orginally sentenced for by the Nazis. He was convicted of murder for a crime from 1931.

[@mjstbnsn6294]

J. Edgar Hoover would applaud Mielke, he had a card system on all politicians and government officials. That is why survived so long. Hey The Cold War, do one on the FBI's activities in the Cold War.

[@Jay-ln1co]

"I'm not behind the iron curtain with you, comrades, you're behind the iron curtain with me!"

[@minifalda6611]

Some people will do anything to avoid taking responsibility for their actions...

[@albertocruzado2899]

In the People's Republic, even crime has been nationalized, so of course he could only be convicted for a crime in those filthy capitalist times of Germany, when crime still wasn't property of the state.

[@gmchander142]

It is not DDR but GDR - i.e., the German Democratic Republic.

[@flashgordon6670]

I like the retro light shade, it looks like a flying saucer.

[@SyndicateBrink]

Love how you seemlessly snuck in that ”The lives of others” at the end there

[@drinksnapple8997]

Why do the Stasi work together in groups of three? - You need one who can read, one who can write, and one to keep an eye on the two intellectuals.

[@voltmandk.h.sherman777]

Hello David and The Cold War crew. I want to thank you very much for the efforts you all put resulting in the quality content of your videos of this historical period. Cheers from France.

[@patchgatsby9138]

The film, The Lives of Others, that he references at the end is amazing. It really gets to the heart of how sinister the Stasi was in the lives of individual people and how corrupt its power could make people.

[@vksasdgaming9472]

Yet the writer-director managed to make its protagonist relatable and pitiful despite him being ruthlessly skilled agent of Stasi. That is great filmmaking and acting.

[@kenoliver8913]

@@vksasdgaming9472 But it is a story of how the Stasi, efficient as it was, could never crush people's humanity - even ironically in one of it agents. It's a very HOPEFUL story (and, as Obama said, wonderfully moving).

[@vksasdgaming9472]

@@kenoliver8913 I found it more of a unprovable mutiny (only later provable) by uncorruptable official who started to resent corruption of his superiors. Maybe he also was able to enjoy Lives of Others through his snooping. Story of man who was betrayed by state not adhering to ethics it demanded him to adhere to.

[@niveusgaius]

A subtle reference at the end to “The Lives of Others”, a great movie about the GDR.

[@TWE_2000]

Stasi: Hey can I copy your work Gestapo: Sure just make it look different so it doesn't look like you just copied it Stasi:

[@luisacosta54]

Hey David (and crew of the Cold War channel), great video. Thank you guys from making content like this. Cheers from Venezuela!

[@robvenables2738]

Just happened on you're channel. Very well done video !! I read a lot about the cold war its great to actually watch and listen to you're videos thank you!!

[@Groovy_Bruce]

“And their impact on the lives of others.” I see what you did there... well played sir, well played.

[@EarthPoweredHippie]

Over the past 2 days this channel has made it to the top of my watch rotation 👌

[@janezmarinic9274]

I'm so glad I was able to watch one of your videos with your hands chained to the desk and not constantly flailing around which was soooo annoying and distracting. Great content.

[@cgt3704]

Germans: Stasi is the cruelest Secret police in Eastern Europe Securitate: Hold our Guns and Silence

[@teresabenson3385]

"The Lives of Others" is one of my all-time favorite movies. The plot twist is fantastic.

[@EchoBoomer1987]

I remember this in my European history class. I’ve always had an interest in the Cold War period in history. With Call of Duty Cold War out, I’m glad this channel was recommended.

[@louisrangel9877]

The STASI gave some tips to the KGB, because they were better at keeping records and collecting info on citizens.

[@MikkoKalavainen]

I spotted the picture frame in the back and spent nearly the whole video trying to remember what was the name of the movie. Didn’t remember until the end. Thanks for saving me from googling it! 😄

[@KadirPurde]

The most interesting thing about Stati is how it could persuade people to report their neighbours, friends, even beloved ones to the state.

[@ravanpee1325]

"Tell us something about your friend xyz or your daughter can't apply for university and your husband will lose his job in the factory"

[@dominikgerhart5919]

German here, some Germans just love snitching.

[@brokenbridge6316]

What a fun n informative video. My compliments to all those who made this video a reality.

[@Barwasser]

16:02 "...and their impact on the lives of others" Is that a film reference to "the lives of Others", one of the best movies from Germany? This movie perfectly depicts the lives of Germans in East Germany at that time - could not recommend more!

[@zulubeatz1]

Yes someone else here mentioned it I must watch it now! Thanjs

[@aukanmeister]

It is very much worthy of your time. I have seen it several times, as I bought it here on KZbin.

[@michaelbellinger1363]

First off, I love the series that you folks do. Please keep it up! I had the pleasure of going to Berlin and actually seeing the Stasi sites throughout Berlin. The Berlin-Hohenschoenhausen prison, the Stasi museum, and other sites throughout Berlin were spectacular. The underground bunker tour was excellent too. Berlin's running joke is to tell a cab driver your name, and they knew your address because they were former Stasi. Or the postman. I hope you do some stuff on Marcus Wolf. That man is legendary. Thank you.

[@stanettiels7367]

The Stasi would be proud of modern day America, and the West in general.

[@repubblesmcglonky8990]

In East Germany, you don't know your own name, but the Stasi do....

[@xstatic-ow5mz]

The Stasis were heroes of virtue. We need a global Stasis especially in the fascist West

[@brainletmong6302]

@@xstatic-ow5mz Found the troll

[@noobster4779]

The Stasi was basically the Gestapo as it was always intended to be.

[@hadirahman3036]

Gestapo had 40 thousand officers to watch 80 million..at the same time statsi had 100 thousand agents and much more informants...however statsi was not that well in killing people like Gestapo... Gestapo stood for hate,ethnic genocide and mass oppression.. however statsi only stood for the latter...

[@Armandoch54]

The Stasi didn’t round up millions for extermination camps. One thing is heavy-handed repression; quite another is genocide.

[@noobster4779]

@@Armandoch54 Neather did the Gestapo. Pls do your research. The Gestapo was the Nazi security branch. The "rounding up of X for extermination camps" was done by all parts of the nazi state. Mainly though by the Einsatzgruppen, local collaborateurs, ss units and wehrmacht(police units.

[@noobster4779]

@@hadirahman3036 As I said, it was what the Gestapo was always longterm intended to be. Remember the Gestapo was around for a few years and had to manage at its hight half of europes population while the Stasi had 40 years to improve on their methods for the survailance of 40 millions. The StaSi was what the Gestapo was supposed to be but could because of lack of ressources, a World War interfering and them having to survail from 80 Million to half of europe. Considering its tasks and limited ressources the Gestapo was very efficent at their job ^^

[@mitchellsmith4690]

Interesting thing, the Gestapo was around before the Nazis, they just appropriated it.

[@ausaskar]

I knew this one was coming the second you dropped the Stasi motto in the KGB video.

[@deanbuss1678]

Cool stuff 👍

Interesting Video.

[@wellitsjustG]

great content, the audio mix puts a lot of emphasis on "SSSs" sounds.

[@ottoen1]

Nice movie reference you did there in the end. :)

[@Mrgunsngear]

Thanks

[@petraburkardt6223]

A very good channel .

[@paudsmcmack3117]

I would love it if you could get an interview with a former stasi person.

[@Johnnycdrums]

If you ever watched, “The Spy Who Came In From The Cold”, you know it was dangerous across that line. I highly recommend it, especially if you like the spy game.

[@TheColdWarTV]

outstanding film

[@ogedeh]

Ive been riding the rails for months, so nice to catch up on some KZbin

[@iamcortman1]

Title drop at the end was p smooth

[@jonnyboombox9211]

Even as a 4 your old I knew to always be nice to the guy who got a 3 room apartement in our building cuz no single got a brand new apartment unless he was Stasi.

[@WallNutBreaker524]

History is intriguing.

[@aaron6178]

Can you guys do a bio on Marcus Wolfe? Their foreign intel boss? He's got a great back story. Cheers

[@robert.m6755]

You should read Man Without A face a biography of Markus Mikhail Wolf written by Ann McElvoy. It’s one of the best books I’ve read in a while!

[@roscopecotrainer77]

The life's of others is a great movie and good portrayal of the Stasi!

[@johnmaxwell1750]

I would like to see an episode on the Bulgarian Durzhavna Sigurnost in which you delve into their foreign assassinations and kidnappings, including the debate about whether they were involved in the 1981 attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II.

[@ciarano177]

You should do an episode on the secret police of each Warsaw pact state

[@ciprian7243]

I am one minute into watching this. And am already convinced I will love it, after seeing the snapshot from "the lives of others", top 3 movies on my list...

[@mjstbnsn6294]

You won't be disappointed.

[@ciprian7243]

@@mjstbnsn6294 I was certainly not. Another spot on material on Cold War.

[@tigerstyle4505]

What's crazy is as bad as organizations like the Stasi have been, largely US and Chinese based massive corporations and international conglomerates have far more info on people, methods of gathering it that would make any authoritarian feel ashamed and resources at their disposal that would turn em green on sight. People spent all their time focused on one type totalitarianism that others were able to perfect their methods, build their infrastructure, and develop their means to the point that they're now quietly ubiquitous. Hell, much of the time we eagerly hand em the information. That's scarier than any secret pigs could ever be imo.

[@jonathangreen6177]

Happening in America right now. INNOCENT American Citizen s being TORTURED by microwave weapons and being Stalked. Their PETS TORTURED and Killed.

[@derrickbonsell]

Libertarians are fine with privately ran authoritarianism.

[@ysmaliwr]

I am glad you guys done released this episode as it has reminded me to ask you a question. Have you watched Deutschland 83 and Deutschland 86? If you have what do you think of the historical accuracy? Could you guys maybe do a general overview of the series if you have watched them?

[@satyakidas5383]

I think it is a mixture of history and historical fiction.

[@akirubamiru6700]

@@satyakidas5383 Well, Tobias Tischbier being homosexual and Fuchs been an ex SS, those character are members of HVA, the choice of the scenarist of Deutschlands series make sense.

[@hughmungus1767]

The last part of the trilogy, Deutschland 89, has been released in the last couple of months.

[@jatdaman]

Great series but heavily romanticized , Martin is like james bond when in reality he would have been killed for going against orders so blatantly and frequently

[@laurencethornber5854]

Just realised I have the poster of the shushing women on my wall as well! I got it when on holiday in Montenegro in 2015 from a market.

[@myriaddsystems]

Its so nice to hear proper pronunciation of foreign language terms and grammatically correct English- Superb!

[@jackfitzpatrick8173]

Simon Weisenthal,the famous Nazi hunter,once said that in his opinion the Stasi was worse than the Gestapo.

[@stevea2909]

I met a couple of older, former Stasi officers and their wives in Vegas once, very entertaining stories around bottle service at Mandalay Bay pool, I saw their GDR tattoos and knew what they represented.

[@marinazagrai1623]

Love that tv set...probably B&W! It still sends shivers up my spine - Stasi was a cruel agency, even worse than Gestapo, and the "informants" were your next door neighbor. Records weren't kept properly so no one would get in triuble for any wrongdoing; not sloppy! A neighbor of ours was a colonel who apprehended the "undesirables", not aware we were as well!

[@jacobmattenson4446]

He though he was slick with that "Lives of Others" reference

[@angryzergling7832]

10:55 Didn't realize how positively massive T34s were - that footage really gives you perspective of the size. Gotta take a lot of courage to throw a rock at that thing when its turret is rotating in your direction.

[@BountyFlamor]

Would be cool if you could talk about the Securitate, too.

[@dsnodgrass4843]

Also Albania's "Sigurimi". A lot of Eastern Bloc nations' security services were patterned on the Stasi; tho' differences in national politics and culture made them imperfect copies.

[@paulstone5917]

"The Lives of Others". That is a good one.

[@sabashukvani]

Nice video! Stasi was one of the best intelligence organizations in the whole world.

[@spicyLEGO]

Please do a video on GRU Division P

[@cheeminthao6535]

Please do a video about the Secret War in Laos during Vietnam

[@nborr258]

I'd like to point out that at one point in time the Stasi had 1 agent for every 183 citizens. Also the footage you see in the video of the Stasi raiding a home is readily available to watch here on KZbin with full English subtitles

[@volodymyrkolbasa5405]

Love the Soviet Encyclopedic Dictionary on the foreground) Details is everything)

[@Game_Hero]

3:45 That guy gives Indy a run for his money with his tie.

[@tszirmay]

Could you consider doing an essay on the AVO/AVH in Hungary ? Thanks

[@larsdumm6359]

Oh,surprised so many here knowing Marcus Wolf. Yea, think he was an realy interisting person. Yes,for sure!

[@NarnianLady]

Erich Mielke in the famous interview at the end of his career: 'ich liebe doch alle Menschen!' 'But I love all people..'

[@giorgio.3251]

Can you make a video on the hungarian ÁVH?

[@ahadahsan1]

When are you going to make episodes on South America?

[@TheVitalpictureshow]

Will you make please make an episode about the East German HVA (Hauptverwaltung Aufklärung) the foreign secret service?

[@TheDoctorMD]

"subverted the bell button" fantastic.

[@mjstbnsn6294]

Hope there will be an episode on Markus Wolf.

[@TheColdWarTV]

As soon as we find his face...

[@nikola_tomic]

I would really like to know what is the soundtrack at the end of your episodes:)

[@Marinealver]

We could use an Antistasi movement.

[@thechekist2044]

We could use an Stasi.

[@kayvan671]

@@thechekist2044 Not here in Europe. Communism doesnt exist anymore here.

[@kayvan671]

As a German, i agree 100%.

[@SiVlog1989]

One of the most thrilling yet revealing films showing the lengths the Ministerium Für Staatsicherheit (Stasi) went to spy on everyone in East Germany was the film Das Leben Der Anderen, The Lives of Others

[@deoglemnaco7025]

My dad was a stasi officer from 1982 to 1990. He was very proud of the work he did. He kept the status quo. Miss you dad

[@urhsusnikvrecic1478]

Will there be an episode on Yugoslav UDBA?

[@Sforeczka]

I caught the movie reference at the end, I don't think I could watch that film again.

[@Sforeczka]

Oh, I see it was mentioned by others

[@mkdmarko1]

Can you make a video about the Yugoslav UDBA?

[@mailman63155]

It's interesting to follow the organizational structures but what was it like for the people?

Am I the only one that spot the picture from Ulrich Mühe in the life of the others? May he rest in peace.

[@AbdulHadi-ml4xc]

Pak-Indo war 1948 please.... Love your content!

[@gideonhorwitz9434]

Can you do a video analyzing the similarities and differences between the gestapo and the Stazi. Which one was worse?

[@schusterlehrling]

While the Stasi was always the "Sword & Shield" of the SED party, the Gestapo was more of one security organisation of the Nazi State and viewed with jealousy by the SS, which was more powerful, the SA, the NSKK and other party affiliated organizations dealing with security, surveillance and spying. It was the brain child and sword of Göring, but never really Hitler's pet. The founder of the Gestapo, Rudolf Diels was even arrested in that internal power struggle, and after 1939 the Gestapo was mainly not very influencial, tough still a good tool to suppress oppositional groups. But it never had the scope, power or influence of the Stasi. The Stasi was more a kind of SS and Gestapo and Reichssicherheitshauptamt and Boarder Police and Foreign Intelligence Service and Military Intelligence Service combined, which were all different organizations, jealous of one another in the NS state, while the Stasi was all in one.

[@joelmalone7922]

The Stasi was far worse than the Gestapo. The Gestapo didn't have even a fifth of the agents that the Stasi did and they had nowhere near the resources either.

[@mikewilliams6237]

I love this channel, so take this love, but you need to turn the TV off the background. It takes the focus off the show.

[@angelasoto4540]

Stasi, best job I never had bro.

[@satyakidas5383]

The Lives of Others is a really good film!

[@bhutochakrabarti4173]

Hey will u also make videos on kgb and stasu operations in Asia, Africa and the middle east.* Stasi.

[@CareraDrift]

When I Enlisted in the German Navy in 2013 I had to fill out Paper Work if I ever worked for the Stasi or was an Informant it's a practice that's even used today when you join the German military

[@taraarrington2285]

What I find interesting is how people like to talk about this now like it's not still going on in countries all over the world.

[@user-ll4qy3df3d]

make a video on present china vs usa cold war .

[@kristiankumanov5732]

Are they any Movies about Stasi and GDR?

[@harryballsonya5347]

This guy is a natural presenter/commentator

[@josh656]

That movie Other People’s Lives is highly recommended!