Virtual Reconstruction of Ripped Stasi Files

[@Dutch_Uncle]

I got my Stasi file, all 300 pages of it, and it is a whole new world. It tells more about the Stasi and the whole East German mindset than it does about me. They were convinced that I was up to something, and anything that was a bit strange prompted more investigation. Absence of anything substantive seems to have prompted more investigation. A delayed suitcase on a flight out of London was examined. They also checked my automobile and found and translated some letters from my parents. Now I know how my father would have sounded if he spoke German, which he did not. After a week or so I realized that there were gaps in their reporting, things that would reasonably have been of interest. How did they miss that? For example that I took the Trans Siberian Railroad and got an East German just a couple of years earlier. Also many day trips to East Berlin, and one declined visa application to accompany a school group on a tour. They correctly noted a good relationship with one supervisor, and a strained relationship with another. My German language ability was rated both "gut" and "sehr gut." Language teachers in both the US and Germany would have disputed those rankings, but who are we to argue with the Stasi? Those guys are the professionals so we must take their word, right? My file came with a bill for Euro 10.00 for photocopying charges, and I paid it in person in Berlin. The receptionist asked me if I wanted to talk with my "Facharbeiter", the person who pulled the file together. I said yes, and the man came down. He remembered the file because it was weird. He was the most understanding, polite, and sensitive German official, East or West, I have ever met. Admittedly, those are not normal qualities for any German official, but he was like a social worker or counselor. He also suggested that I check back every year or so, since they continue to find boxes of stuff in attics and basement rooms. The last update had some new legalese in it saying that just because it is in the Stasi files does not mean that it is true. So, my contribution to Cold War Victory was to tie up a bunch of folks following me around, digging into my car, suitcases, and mail, and then writing reports. We sometimes hear that East Germany had full employment, nobody out of work. I also contributed to achievement of that party objective.

[@richardalvarado-ik9br]

This is fascinating.....unbelievable! great short documentary.

[@geoffdearth7360]

Perhaps they should call upon those who reassembled the shredded papers which were in the former US embassy in Teheran?

[@AKAHEIZER]

Great project, hopefully it's been finished in a short time frame.

[@olddemon6581]

Bro this is from 2013

[@xandervk2371]

So did it work, or not?

[@FraunhoferIPK]

Yes, the ePuzzler technology has been proven to work in several different applications. Please see our website for further reference: www.ipk.fraunhofer.de/de/kompetenzen/automatisierung/automatisierte-virtuelle-rekonstruktion.html

[@briandelaney9710]

The dramatic voice of the narrator is a bit over the top

[@goylineislahmberg5778]

What about Frau Merkel's Stasi-file? ;)

[@IzunaDestruction]

Good question, seriously. Has it even been found? NSA whistleblowers talked about how Obama was under surveillance from the beginning and was likely selected, not elected. What about Merkel? She remained in power for as nearly as long as Putin with not was not even nearly close to his approval rating. It would really be worthy the search to read her file.

[@poodtang2104]

Oh you can guarantee she has several pages on file.

[@BB-kt5eb]

This is an epic waste of taxpayer money when they can pretty safely assume, that aside from everyone who still admits they did something actually illegal according to current standards should have their Stasi convictions overturned

[@christianfrancoisdohmenchr638]

Hope she's getting another file, soon!

[@poodtang2104]

That is so cool.

[@evelynrothschild6304]

There is something much worse going on today but yet very few people are aware of it's existence and sadly most people only find about it when it's too late. Do a web search for "NSA whistleblower Karen Stewart" and see what happened to her.

[@gorilla1871]

That dudes hair is ridiculous!

[@andrewb.5996]

9:46....fixes the East German problems.....ignores his own hair!

[@mijtube]

Gestapo