Bundesunmittelbare Stiftungdes öffentlichen Rechts

Coming to Terms: Dealing with the Communist Past

in United Germany

Preface 5

I. ThePost-CommunistGermanExperience:SpecialFeatures 141. SecuringandOpeningtheFiles 152. RecordsandLustrations 203. EliteChanges 244. CommunistInjusticebeforetheCourts 325. Restitution,Rehabilitation,Compensation 40

II. FederalFoundationfortheReappraisaloftheSED-Dictatorship 441. Origins:ParliamentaryInquiryCommissionsandInitiatives 452. StructureoftheFoundation 483. MandateandScope:ServicesandActivities 52

III. OtherGermanandInternationalInstitutions:ABriefOverview 561. FederalInstitutions 582. Civicarchives 723. OtherInstitutions,museumsandmemorialsites 744. VictimsAssociations 86

ComingtoTerms:DealingwiththeCommunistPastinUnitedGermany

ThisbrochureiscommissionedandpublishedbytheFederalFoundationfortheReappraisaloftheSED-Dictatorship(Bundesstiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur).WrittenincollaborationwiththeFoundationbyBerndSchaefer,SeniorResearchScholarwiththeColdWarInternationalHistoryProjectattheWoodrowWilsonInternationalCenterinWashingtonD.C.,itprovidesanoverviewofsalientfeaturesandimportantinstitutionspertainingtoprocessesofcomingtotermswiththecommunistpastinGermanysince1990.

Berlin,October2011

Dr.AnnaKaminsky

COmInGTOTERmS:DEAlInGwIThThECOmmUnISTPASTInUnITEDGERmAny

Duringthecourseofthe20thcenturyGermanyexperiencedtwodifferentdictatorships,thetwelveyearsoffascistNaziGermany’s“ThirdReich”between1933and1945andthe40yearsofcommunistruleinEastGermanybetween1949and1989(thelatterprecededbySovietmilitaryoccupationofEasternGermanyandEastBerlinsince1945whenGermancommunistswereguidedinbuildingupdictatorialstructures).

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Both periods of dictatorshipshadsomestructuralelementsincommonwhiletheyalsodisplayedobviouscontrasts.Bothdictatorshipsstartedandendedverydifferently,withNaziGermanyresortingtoaglobalwarofaggressionresultinginmillionsofwardeadandthegenocideofEuropeanJewry.RespectivecrimescommittedbythetwoGermandictatorshipsdifferedvastlyinscopeandgeographicalrange.

AfterthedemiseofNaziGermanyandtheSecondWorldWar’sendinginEurope,SovietmilitaryauthoritiesusedcertainNaziconcentrationcampsitesinEasternGermanybetween1945and1950fortheirten“specialinternmentcamps”todetainsomereal,andmanyalleged,national-socialists.About43,000ofthem,i.e.35percentofindividualsinterned,perishedduringconfinement.

HowGermanscametotermswiththosetwodictatorshipsexistingontheirsoilvariedsignificantly,giventhemajordifferencesinbothinternationalandnationalenvironmentsafter1945andfrom1989.MeanwhilebothexperiencesinredressinginjusticesofthepasthavebeguntoreferenceeachotherinpublicGermandiscourse.Theyhaveledtoaconvergenceinthesensethatobligationsexisttofacedictatorialpastsfromtheperspectivesofvictimsratherthanthoseheldbyperpetrators.Theprocessofhowtocometotermswithvariousinjusticesandcrimescommittedduringdictatorshipsalsofacilitatedascrutinyofthelatter’slegacies.Theywarrantasearchforlessonsapplicabletopost-dictatorialdemocraticsystemsandcorrespondingsocietalstructures.

TheGermanpopulationinareasthatbecamethecommunistGermanDemocraticRepublic(GDR)experiencedthedifferencesandsimilaritiesoftwosucceedingdictatorshipsfrom1933to1945and1945to1989.TheGDRwasestablishedon7October1949andimposedonthepopulationbyGermancommunistsorganizedintheSocialistUnityParty(SED)withthevitalassistanceoftheSovietUnionandwithoutpopularlegitimization.Afaçadeof“democratic”institutionswassetupwiththeSEDactuallypullingallthestringsbyvirtueofits

C o m i n g t o t e r m s :

D e a l i n g w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t P a s t i n u n i t e D g e r m a n y

There were about 250,000 political prisoners in the GDR over the course of 40 years

8C o m i n g t o t e r m s :

D e a l i n g w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t P a s t i n u n i t e D g e r m a n y

self-assignedabsoluteunfetteredpower.Overthecourseofyears,peoplelivinginthissocialiststatehadtoexperiencemultiplefeaturesofrepression.Opponentsoftheregime,ormembersofrivalpoliticalpartiesduringtheearlypostwaryears,wereatanytimesubjecttovariousformsofadministrativerepressionorarbitraryarrestsbasedonpartisandefinitionsofcriminallaw.ThejudicialsystemwasentirelysubordinatedtotheSED’srespectivepoliticalinterests.Overall250,000peoplewerearrestedbetween1945and1989forpoliticalreasons(between1961and1989about30,000ofthemwerereleasedtotheWestafterransomwaspaidtoGDRauthoritiesbytheWestGermangovernment).ThousandsweredeportedtoSiberiancampsbySovietauthoritiesafter1945andduringthe1950s.UntilAugust1961alone,morethanthreemillionpeoplefledtheGDRthroughthestillopenborderswithWestGermany:Suchconstituted

soviet tanks terminate the massive east german popular revol t in June 1953

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thelargestrefugeemovementinEuropeaftertheendofWorldWarII.Traumaticexperienceswerecreated,forinstance,bytheviolentSovietcrackdownonthemassiveEastGermanpopularrevoltinJune1953,the1956defeatoftheHungarianuprisingandsubsequentrepressivemeasuresintheGDR,theAugust1961constructionoftheintra-Berlinborderandthewalling-inandfencing-inof17millionpeopleintheGDRnowseparatedfromtheirkininWestGermany,the1968WarsawPactmilitaryinterventioninCzechoslovakia,orthe1981martiallawcrackdownontheSolidarnosclaborandpeasantunionmovementinneighboringPoland.AllthoseeventshadincommonthatattemptsbypeopleintheGDRandEasternEuropetoattaindemocraticrightsandfreedomsweremetbydictatorialregimeswithafullforceofrepressivemeasures.

the Ber l in wal l in the 1970s

10C o m i n g t o t e r m s :

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ThecommunistregimeintheGDRremainedinpoweraslongasMoscowhadavestedinterestinandthepowertomaintainadivisionofGermanyandtheexistenceofaseparatesocialistGermanstate.By1989atthelatest,theUSSRhadimplicitlywithdrawnitswarrantyofarmedinterventiontomaintainthesurvivalofasocialistEastGermany.Inparalleldevelopments,arefugeewaveexitingtheGDRtoWestGermanythroughHungaryandCzechoslovakiaultimatelytoppledtheSEDregimeinconjunctionwithunrestinsidethe

GDR.Theremassiveandpersistentpeacefuldemonstrationsheldcountrywideinsmallandbigcitiestookplace.Allthiswasinspiredbythehugepath-breakingdemonstrationinthecityofLeipzigon9October1989,whichultimatelyforcedtheopeningof

theBerlinWallandofthecountry’ssealedborderswiththeWestby9November1989.A“peacefulrevolution”featuringtheslogan“Wearethepeople”graduallydismantledcommuniststatestructuresandestablishedfoundationsfortheemergenceofamulti-partydemocracy.Aftertheself-liberationofEastGermansthroughapoliticalrevolution,a

processofself-democratizationbegan.Freeelectionson18March1990resultedinanoverwhelmingmajorityforEastGermanpoliticalpartiesadvocatingrapidunificationwiththeWesternFederalRepublicofGermany(FRG).Bythenthesloganfromthebeginningoftherevolutionhadchangedto“Weareonepeople”.EnsuingnegotiationsbetweengovernmentrepresentativesfrombothGermanstatesthenculminatedinacurrency,economic,andsocialunionon1July1990andinacomprehensiveUnificationTreatysignedon31August1990.Afterextensivemultilateralandbilateraldeliberations,thefourvictoriousalliedpowersofWorldWarII(USSR,USA,GreatBritain,France)ratifiedon12September1990inMoscowwithbothGermanstatesinaso-called“2+4Treaty”upcomingGermanunificationandthestatusofunitedGermanyasamemberoftheNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization(NATO)militaryalliance.SovietarmedforcesintheGDR,whichthatatheightoftheColdWarinEuropehadamountedto400,000men,weretoleavetheEasternpartofunitedGermanyby1994.

Backin1945,SovietmilitaryoccupationauthoritieshadestablishedonEastGermanterritorythefivestatesofBrandenburg,Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,Saxony,Saxony-AnhaltandThuringia.ThecityofBerlinwasdividedintofour

The slogan from the beginning of the revolution had changed to “We are one people”

12C o m i n g t o t e r m s :

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sectorswiththeSovietUnionadministeringthelargestofthemintheEasternpart.In1952theGDRhadthesefivestatesreplacedwith14districtsandaseparate15thentityforEastBerlin.WithGermanunificationon3October1990,however,theoriginalfiveEastGermanstatesfrom1945werere-

established.TogetherwiththereunitedcityofBerlin,nowfiguringasastateofitsown,theyjoinedtheexistingelevenWestGermanstatestomergeintooneFederalRepublicofGermany.In1991unitedBerlin

wasvotedthecapitalcitybytheGermanparliamentandultimatelybecametheseatofunitedGermany’sfederalgovernmentin1999.

HowtocometotermswiththecommunistGDRpastbecameamajorfeatureofpublicdiscourseinunitedGermanyalmostimmediatelyafterthefalloftheBerlinWallinNovember1989.FirststepsinthisregardinitiatedinEastGermanybymultiplecivicgroupsandlocalmedianowfreedfromcensorship(andintenselysupportedbyWestGermanmedia);nottheleast,however,mostinitiativeswerelaunchedbycourageous

individuals.ThoseactivitiesoccurredduringtheGDR’slastyearbetweenNovember1989andOctober1990–andthusbeforeGermany’sofficialunification.Importantdecisionsinthecontextofdemocratization,likeapplyingcriminallawtoperpetrators,compensatingthevictims,andopeningthefiles,originatedfromthelastGDRgovernment(whichalsohappenedtobetheonlyfreeanddemocraticone)aftertheMarch1990elections.

SubsequentlytakenupbythefederalparliamentofunitedGermanyandthefivenewstatesinitsEasternpart,broadpoliticalmajoritiesreachedconsensusaboutapublicdutytoaddress,andpossiblyredress,themanifoldissuesofinjusticeandrepressioncommittedduringGDRtimes.Comprehensiveexplorationandinformationaboutstructuresandmethodsofadictatorialpast,aswellasthecommemorationofactsofciviccourage,opposition,andresistance,wereseenasnecessarypreconditionsforlivinginahealthydemocracy.Since1990,allGermanfederalgovernmentsandparliamentshavebeenveryclearinexpressingtheneedforareappraisalofthecommunistdictatorship.Wide-rangingandintenseeffortsbyfederal,stateandlocalgovernments,themedia,

Berlin was voted the capital city by the German parliament

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andcivicsocietydealtinmultiplefacetswiththescopeofissuesraisedbythedemiseofthecommunistGDR.Hardlyanyotherdemocracyduringthecourseofthe20thcenturytookmoreinitiativesandsteps,bothquantitativelyandqualitatively,tocometotermswiththelastinglegacyofinjusticefromapastdictatorshipthanunitedGermanydidsince1990inthecaseofcommunistEastGermany.

ResearchersworkingatUniversitiesandelsewherediscoveredavarietyofnewtopicsandpublishednewknowledgewhichenlightenedthepastrealityoftheEastGermanDictatorship.Morethan2.000researchprojectswereaccomplishedsince1990.Especiallythefieldofoppositionandresistanceagainsttheregimeaswellasrepressionandpoliticalpersecutioncameintothecentreofhistoricalinterest.

I. ThEPOST-COmmUnISTGERmAn EXPERIEnCE:SPECIAlFEATURES

WhencommunistregimesinCentralandEasternEuropegraduallylosttheirpoliticalpowerandwereoverthrowninthesecondhalfof1989bypeacefulrevolutions,auniquefeaturewasondisplayinEastGermanyduringthefirstdaysofDecember:DemocracyactivistsandconcernedcitizensspontaneouslyforcedtheirentranceintodistrictandcountyheadquartersofthefearedandhatedMinistryforStateSecurity(MfS,orStasi;establishedin1950).

1. SecuringandOpeningtheFileS

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The Stasi,theclandestinearmoftheSEDwith95,000employeesandroughly180,000unofficialinformersin1989,hadspiedoneverysegmentoftheGDRpopulationforalmost40years.Allinall,nearly600,000unofficialinformersand250,000StasiemployeesmonitoredthepeopleduringtheexistenceoftheGDR.Thisconstitutedtheperhapshighestcountryratiobetweenintelligenceoperativesandapopulationanywhereintheworld.

ThescenarioofDecember1989unfoldedinmajorcitieslikeErfurt,Leipzig,Dresden,Magdeburg,Halle,andRostock,butalsoinmanyotherseatsofdistrictorcountygovernments:Activistsseizedthebuildingsandsealedandsecuredmillionsofremainingsurveillancefileswiththehelpofstateprosecutorsassistedbythepolice.ThemassiveStasiheadquartersinBerlin,however,wheremajorresistancewasexpected,remaineduntoucheduntil15January1990beforeitsharedafateidenticaltoStasicompoundsinotherEastGermancities.

ByearlyDecember1989,theStasididnotputupfightsforitspropertiesindistrictandcountyseatsaffected.Itcededunderpeacefulpressurewithoutresortingtoviolencesinceitslong-timepoliticalprincipalhadjustceaseditsownexistence:TheentirePolitburoandCentralCommitteeoftheSEDinBerlinhadresignedon4December1989,andthusdefactoterminatedtheexistenceofacommunistpartyinEastGermany(itspost-communistsuccessorpartiesweretomarkabreakfromMarxist-Leninistpatternsofthepast).WhilethefoundingmissionoftheStasiasthe“swordandshieldoftheparty”vanished,someregionalStasicommandersgaveinstructionstodestroyitsincriminatingfiles.SmokefromchimneysofStasibuildings,andtherapidcountrywidespreadofsuchnews,triggeredapopularmovementtoseizethebuildingsandstopthedestructionofrecords.ActivistEastGermancitizenssucceededinthisregardtolargeextent.TheythuslaidthegroundworkforaspecialfeatureofEastGermany’scomingtotermswiththecommunistpastbyprovidingnecessarytoolsandsourcesforcomprehensive

t h e P o s t - C o m m u n i s t g e r m a n e x P e r i e n C e : s P e C i a l F e a t u r e s

s e C u r i n g a n D o P e n i n g t h e F i l e s

Nearly 600,000 unoffi cial informers and 250,000 Stasi employees monitored the people during the existence of the GDR

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lustrationoftaintedindividuals.SecuringtheStasifilesestablishedamajorpillaroftransitionaljusticeinGermanytobeestablishedandimplementedduringthefollowingdecadeofthe1990s.

InthemonthstofollowthetakeoversofDecember1989andJanuary1990,Stasirecordsremainedundersealandwereguardedonsitebylocalgroupsofcivicactivists.The

freelyelectedGDRparliamenttookupon22July1990itsfirstreadingofadrafton“securingandopening”thefilesforvictimsofsurveillanceaswellasforresearchers.On24Augustdeputiespassednearlyunanimouslyalawprovidingforacomprehensive

lustrationofallEastGermanparliamentariansasafirststep.ArelocationandpotentialclosureplanfloatedbytheWestGermanMinistryofInteriortomovetheStasirecordsintothe

FederalArchivelocatedinWestGermanywasmetbyamassiveoutcryinEastGermany.Asit-ininBerlin’sformerStasiheadquarters,andasubsequenthungerstrikebyprominentactivists,eventuallyrenderedanyrelocationplansmoot.On18September1990aclausewasaddedtotheUnificationTreatybetweenthetwoGermanstates,accordingtowhichthefutureparliamentofunitedGermanywascommissionedtodraftalawbasedonprovisionsfromtheAugust1990modelpassedbytheEastGermanparliament.WithGermanUnificationdayon3October1990theStasirecordsthencameundersupervisionofaspecialcommissionerandhisstaffwhoturnedintoaFederalCommissionerin1991:ThiswasEastGermanJoachimGauck,aProtestantpastorfromRostockandactivistwhohadalsochairedthelastGDRparliament’scommitteeinchargeofdealingwiththeStasilegacy.Aftermuchlegalwrangling,precededbymediarevelationsfromStasifilescirculatinginpublic,inDecember1991theGermanparliamentultimatelypassedthefinaldraftoftheStasiRecordsLaw(or“StUG”,astheGermanacronym

In December 1991 the German parliament ultimately passed the final draft of the Stasi Records Law

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the stas i co l lected not only informat ionon f i les , but a lso var ious i t ems of thei r

v ict ims l ike o l factor y samples

goes).ItestablishedaFederalAgencyheadedbyaFederalCommissionerforStasirecords(“BStU”bytheGermanacronym)andregulatedindetailhowtoaccessandmakeuseofaltogether180kilometers(120miles)ofsavedandpreservedfilesassembledbytheformerGDRMinistryforStateSecurityoverthecourseofalmost40years.JoachimGauckheadedtheBStUuntil2000when,duetolegaltermlimitations,MarianneBirthlersucceededhimintheofficeofFederalCommissionertillMarch2011.RolandJahnisthethirdFederalCommissionerbynow.

TheDecember1991StUGcameintoeffecton1January1992andformallyestablishedtheBStUasafederalagency.Itsmaintasksstipulatedbythislawwerethefollowing:

2. recOrdSand luStratiOnS

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• Individualsweregrantedtherightofaccessto,andcomplimentarycopiesof,anypersonalizedrecordstheStasimighthavecreatedandfiledonthem.Also,theyobtainedtherighttomakepublicanycontentoftheirpersonalfilesandtoreceive,uponrequest,namesofinformerswhohadspiedonthem.(Sofar,theBStUagencyhasreceivedmorethantwomillionindividualinquiriessince1991).

• TheagencyprovideddocumentationandinterpretationassistanceforthevettingofpresentandprospectiveemployeesofGermany’sfederalandstatecivilservice.

• Inordertofulfilltheneedforpubliclyavailableresearchresults,theStUGalsoregulatedoverallgenerousaccessrightsforjournalists,aswellasforacademicandindividualresearchers.

• TheBStUwastaskedtocontributetopubliceducationaboutStasimethods,structures,andactivities;itdidsothroughoutreach,publicevents,documentations,publications,andexhibits.

Incombination,thoseprovisionsstimulatedaverylivelydebateinthemedia,theinterestedpublic,andamongacademics.Allinall,since1991morethan6.5millionrequestsforaccesstoStasirecordswerefiled(includingthosebymediaandresearchers).1.7millionindividualsaskedtoseetheirpersonalStasifiles.

Followingthepath-breakingopeningofthesefilescreatedbytheGDRsecurityapparatus,recordsfromallcentral,regional,andlocalbranchesoftheGDRpartyandstatecomplexweresubsequentlyopenedandmadeaccessibletothepublic,toresearchers,andtothemedia.WiththesingleexceptionoftheEastGermanyMinistryofForeignAffairswherefilescameunderauthorityofunitedGermany’sForeignOffice,theotherwisecommon30-years-ruleforGermanarchivalrecordswaswaivedforallGDR-relatedfiles.Inessence,theybecameavailablefortheentirehistoricalperiodbetween1945and1990.The42kilometers(26miles)ofrecordsfromthevastformermulti-branchEastGermanstateapparatus

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weretransferredtotheauthorityoftheGermanFederalArchive.TheyareopentothepublicintheircurrentlocationinBerlin-Lichterfelde.ThesamearchivalcompoundalsohoststhelikewiseaccessiblearchivesofthecommunistpartySEDanditsaffiliatedmassorganizations(TradeUnions,YouthAssociations,NationalFront).Since1991thosefilesareorganizedinaseparatefoundationembeddedintheFederal

Archive.Archivesoftheso-called“blocparties”alignedwiththeSEDduringGDRtimesweremovedtotheirWestGermanpatronpartiesin1990.TheretheybecameaccessiblesomewhatlateratthearchivesoftheChristian-DemocraticUnion(CDU)inSt.Augustin

nearBonnandtheFreeDemocraticParty(FDP)inGummersbacheastofCologne.BasedonthiswiderangeofopenedfilesanddocumentsofthecommunistdictatorshipintheGDR,since1990morethan16,000publicationsappeared,amongthemover6,000booksandacademicmonographs.

Archives of the so-called “bloc parties” aligned with the SED during GDR times were moved to their West German patron parties

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Thevastdocumentationrecordavailable,inparticularfromthecomparativelywell-organizedStasiarchives,wasafter3October1990alsousedasabasisforcomprehensivelustrationofmembersandapplicantsforcivilservice,aswellasforvariousaffiliatedsectorsofthisserviceinunitedGermanyonthefederal,state,andlocallevel.Scopeofscreeningsandindividualregulationsvariedwithregardtostates,professionalsectors,andrespectivelustration

commissions.However,overallmoreorlesscomparableruleswereappliedtovalidate,ordismiss,questsbyindividualstoremainin,respectivelyjoin,Germany’svastcivilservice.Backgroundchecksremainedineffectandmandatoryuntil31December2006.Afterthatdate,theybecameapplicableinlimitedcasesonly,andpertainingtohigher-rankingpositions.

DuringGDRtimes,theSEDexerteditsconstitutionallyguaranteedandself-declared“leadingrole”instateandsocietynotjustintheory.By1989,thecommunistpartyhad2.3millionmembers(outofanentirepopulationof16million).

3.elitechangeS

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Party membership was mandatory forbasicallyeveryleadingpositioninsectorslikepublicadministration,thestate-runeconomy,police,security,andthemilitary,thejudicialsystem,oreducationinschoolsandatuniversities.Afterthepeacefulrevolutionof1989,theSEDrenameditselfinPDS(“PartyofDemocraticSocialism”)anditsmembershipdroppedtoabout200,000bytheendof1990.TheGDRgraduallyceasedtoexist,followingthefreeEastGermanelectionof18March1990thatoverwhelminglyexpressedapopularwilltopursuerapidunificationandadoptionoftheWestGermanpoliticalandeconomicsystem.ThequestionnowloomedwhowouldformthenewEastGermanelitesinstateandsociety;andwhatrole,ifany,mightbeplayedbythemillionsofformerSEDmembers.

AsfarastheprocessofreplacementofcommunistelitesinformerEastGermanyisconcerned,theperiodsince1990wasanotherratheruniqueexperiencedisplayingvariousGermanspecifics.Withregardtoanexchangeofoldadministrativeelites,EastGermanshadoneparticularoptionthatsetthemapartfromothertransformingformerWarsaw

PactmemberstatesinEasternandCentralEurope:Beyondtheobvioussearchforpoliticallyuntaintedindigenouselites,thefivenewEastGermanstatesinunitedGermanyhadattheirdisposalresourcesoftrainedadministrativepersonnelfromWestGermanpartnerstates.Also,thereexistedacertainstockofemigratedformerEastGermansnowlivinginWestGermanywhowerewillingto“comeover”,orreturn,totheEasttotakeoverpositionsvacatedbyoldcommunistandideologicallyaffiliatedelites.WhereassomeEasternEuropeanstateshadaswellnumbersofemigrantslivinginethniccommunitiesinWesternEurope,theUnitedStates,andCanadawhoconsideredtoreturntotheirnowpost-communistcountriesofbirth,thosenumberspaledinquantitativetermstothelargeWestGerman-basedpoolofuntaintedpersonnelavailabletoEastGermany.Forthosereasons,nowhereinpreviouslysocialistcountriesofEasternandCentralEuropeelitechange,i.e.thereplacementofpoliticallycompromisedpersonnel,becameassweepingandprofoundasitdidintheformerGDR.Inbasicallyallmajorareasofthecivilserviceitwasfar-reaching,deep,andpermanent.

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Overall,theelitechangeduringthe1990sinEastGermanyhadsignificantlymoretorelyonWesternimportsthanonindigenouspotential.From1990onwards,reformistpoliticalcirclesandcivicactivistsinEastGermanysetthepaceforpurgingoldelitesfromthesectorsofpublicadministrationandfromtheeducationalsystem(thelattertraditionallybeingapartofcivilserviceinGermany).Initially,theyhopedtodrawmostlyonindigenousresources:DuringcommunisttimescertainpartsofGDRacademicelitesnotaffiliatedwiththeSEDhadlargelystayedawayfrompolitics.They“hibernated”incomparativelynon-ideologicalacademicprofessionslikemedicine,thenaturalsciences,engineering,orintheChristianchurches.Afterthefallofcommunism,theywherenowexpectedtofigureasapotential“counter-elite”andtoserveasanindigenousreservoirforthereplacementofoldelites.Someofthemsubsequentlyindeedemergedinpoliticalofficeonstateandcountylevel.However,intheendonlyafractionofsuchindividualsactuallywantedtojointheremodeledsectorsofpublicadministrationinthefivenewEastGermanstates.The“counter-elite”optionfailedtoemergeasarealisticalternativewhenthemajorityoftargetedindividualsstayedwithintheiroldprofessions;thosehad

meanwhilebecomemoreattractiveandofferedperspectivesinbothpartsofunitedGermany.

ThusimportsfromWestGermanyturnedoutasthefallback

optionforelitechangeinEastGermany.Withunification,theWestGermanpolitical,economic,legalandadministrativesystemreplicatedandreproduceditselfinthenewlyformed

EastGermanstates.Thisentailedalarge-scaledismantlingofformerGDRinstitutionalstructureswhileatthesametimeadministrativebodiesandbureaucraciesbasedonWestGermanmodelswereestablished.ForEastGermans,formercommunistsoranti-communistsalike,thiswasan

entirelynewexperiencethatrequiredsubstantialadaptation.Withthatexperiencecametheurgentneedtolearnalmostovernightaboutlaws,regulations,andtheactualfunctioningoftheWestGermansystem.HencetheimportofWestGerman-basedtemporaryexpertsandnumerousadvisersforpolitical,administrative,andeducationalleadershippositionsacrossthepublicsectorwasinevitableandultimatelyindispensable.

During communist times certain parts of GDR academic elites not affiliated with the SED had largely stayed away from politics

Walter Ulbricht: “Nobody has the intention to erect a wall.” 15 June 1961 at a press conference in East Berlin

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AfterGermanunification,thosepersonnelimportsweretospearheadinthefiveEastGermanstatestheimplementationofallaspectsofthetransferredWestGermansystemformanyyearstocome.

TheWestGermanimportsencounteredamoreorlessblankslateandstruggledtofillvacanciesacrosstheboardinEasterntopadministrativepositions.SomeoldGDR-specificinstitutionsweredownsized,yetmanyofthemweredissolved.Numerousnewadministrativestructureshadtobebuiltfromscratch.ThefivenewstategovernmentsestablishedinEastGermanyaftertheWestGermanmodelhadnoequivalentintheGDRwheretheterritoryhadbeensubdividedinto15districts.Afterunification,publicadministrationinEastGermanyhadtoshiftgearsandspeedilyimplementWestGermanlawandregulationswithalltheirsubtleties.ThustherewasaconstantneedofimportingspecialistsfromtheWestforallhigherlevelsofcivilservice.SoonthisresultedinWestGermandominanceinalmostallhigherranksofEastGermanstate

rainer eppelmann, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federa l Foundat ion

for the reappra isa l of the seD Dictatorship

ministriesandpublicadministration,especiallyinthesectorsoffinance,justice,interior,andeconomicregulation.SincealsomostlyWesternimportswereinchargeofrecruitingnewpersonnel,theyusuallycalledandtappedintopeopletheyknewfromtheirfamiliarWesternprofessionalnetworks.

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hadtobefinanciallysubsidizedbyWesternpartners.ThusthelatterconsideredexportofadministrativepersonnelasanactivecontributiontooverseeanddirecttheinvestmentandspendingofmoneyintheEast.TheyalsohopedforaspeedyeconomicrecoveryoftheEastwiththehelpofWesternspecialists.Thoughthisrecoverytooksignificantlylongerthaninitiallyexpected,itultimatelyincreasedlivingstandardsintheformerGDRandledtopartialeconomicself-sufficiencyofEasternGermany;therebyinturngradually

Initially,WesternstategovernmentswerereluctanttooverwhelmtheEasternstateswiththeirpersonnel.AtemporaryorpermanenttransferofWesterncivilservantstotheEastwasacostlyundertakingwhichWesternstateswereeagertoscaledownassoonaspossible.Soontheyrealized,however,thattherewasnootheralternativeiftheywantedtobuildafunctioningadministrationtoapplyandimplementWesternlawsandregulations.Intheearlyyearsafter1990,almostfiftypercentofthebudgetsofEastGermanstates

now and then: lothar de maiz ière , the last and only democrat ica l ly e lected Pr ime minister and markus meckel , penul t imate fore ign minister of the gDr s igning the coal i t ion agreement in 1990 and in d iscuss ion with hermann rudolph, publ isher of “Der tagesspiegel” in 2010

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decreasingtheamountofneededWesternpersonnelimports,financialassistance,andotherformsofaid.

Inpublicadministration,Westernimportsinitiallyoccupiedmanytoppositionsinnewlyformedstateadministrationstructures,albeitmuchlesssoincontinuingstructuresoncountyandlocallevels.Numericallythemainbodyofall

stateadministrationscon-sistedofpoliticallyuntaintedEasterners,yetmostlyinsubordinatepositions.ThejusticesystemandthecourtssawaheavyinfluxofWesternimportsintovarioustoppositions,againwithastrongnumericalEasternbaseinlowerechelons.Incontrast,policeforcesinEastGermanyweretogrowrapidlyafterunificationdue

toanincreaseincrimeandsafety-relatedneeds.DespitesomeWesternimportsinstalledattheverytop,manyformerGDRpolicepersonnelhadtoberetainedanditsnumbers

increasedfromindigenousresources.Whilethepolicewassometimesoverwhelmedafterunification,thepublicschoolsystemanditsbureaucracywereoverstaffedduetosinkingenrollment.Muchtaintedpersonnelwasthusdismissedbutotherswereretained,astheinterestofWesternimportstoworkinEastGermanschoolswascomparativelylow.UniversityfacultypositionsintheformerGDR,incontrast,wereattrac-tivetoWestGermanacademicswhopushedintovacanciescreatedbydismissalsofpoliticallyandotherwisecompromisedEastGermanprofessors.StructuresoftheGDReconomyweresubstantiallytransformed,withthehugeformerall-publicsectorbrokenupintoindividualpiecesandsoldtoWesterncompanies.YetmanyEastGermaneliteeconomicprofessionalsmadetheirwayevenundernewconditionsanddespiteWestGermanleadershipatthetop;theirnetworksandexpertiseweremuchindemand.OtherformerGDRsectorsallbutdisappeared:CentralstructuresofthevastGDRstateapparatusweredismantled,thelargeSEDpartyapparatusdisappeared.The95,000forceoftheStateSecuritywasdissolvedwithoutreplacement,the165,000GDRmilitarydemobilizedandincorporatedintotheWestGermanarmy(Bundeswehr)withultimately11,000menretained.

Central structures of the vast GDR state apparatus were dismantled, the large SED party apparatus disappeared. The 95,000 force of the State Security was dissolved without replacement, the 165,000 GDR military demobilized

31

ProcessesofelitechangeandtheroleofWesternimportstoEastGermanywereanythingbutuncontroversialduringmostofthefirstdecadeafterGermanunification.Yetaconstanttraining,education,andqualificationofEastGermanspecialistsduringthefollowingyearsnotonlyshranktheabove-mentioneddominanceofimportedWesternpersonnel.Italsofomentedanevergrowingandmeanwhilesubstantial“indigenization”ofallsectorswithinEastGermancivilservice;andledtomanyEastGermansnowoccupyingleadingpolitical,economic,educational,andadministrativeelitepositionsintheirownregions.

angela merkel , cur rent Chancel lor of germany, was

the deputy spokesperson of the last gDr government

under lothar de maiz ière

Beginningwiththelasttwomonthsof1989,thenowreformistGDRmadeconsiderableeffortstoprosecute,weigh,andjudgealmosteveryaspectofcriminalactivityintheformerGDR.

4. cOmmuniStinjuStice beFOrethecOurtS

33

During the following decadeofthe1990s,GermancourtsappliedGDRlawsineffectduringactualcommitmentofcrimesincommunisttimes,butalsocurrentjurisdictionofunitedGermanywhereapplicable,and,inthecaseofexecutedshoot-to-kill-ordersattheBerlinWallandtheintra-Germanborderbetween1961and1989,universalhumanrightslaw.IncontinuationoflegalprosecutorialeffortsinitiatedduringthelastyearoftheGDR,thejudiciaryinunitedGermanyactedfurtherupon“electoralfraud”,i.e.themanipulationofelectionresultsintimesofcommunistrule,aswellasuponissuesconcerning“abuseofprivileges”andcorruptionamongformerleadingGDRofficials.Afterunification,thecourtsofunitedGermanydefinedthecategorieslistedbelowasmanifestexpressionsof“communistinjustice”duringGDRtimes.Therewerethereforeconsideredassubjecttoprosecution,includingtheobligationtoinvestigateandactonpotential“severehumanrightsviolations”inanyofthefollowingcategories:

• Politicalinstructionsandmilitaryactionspertainingtoshoot-to-killordersagainstEastGermanrefugeesbetween1961and1989attheBerlinWall(sofar126confirmeddeadlyincidents)andtheintra-Germanborder(deathsarenumberingbetweenmanyhundredsupto1,000andarestillsubjecttoexactconfirmation);defendantswereformermembersofhighestGDRdecision-makingpoliticalbodies(SEDPolitburo,NationalDefenseCouncil),aswellasindividualborderguardswhoexecutedpoliticalguidelinesresultinginthedeathsofrefugees

• ArbitraryandpoliticizedapplicationofGDRlawsresultingindisproportionateprisonordeathsentences

• Denunciationsofindividualsresultingintheirpoliticallymotivatedarrestorinotherformsofretributionorpunishment

• IllegalactionsaccordingtoGDRlawbytheformerGDRMinistryforStateSecuritylikekidnappingsfromWestBerlinorWesternGermanytoEastGermany(morethan

34t h e P o s t - C o m m u n i s t g e r m a n e x P e r i e n C e : s P e C i a l F e a t u r e s

C o m m u n i s t i n J u s t i C e B e F o r e t h e C o u r t s

400casesin40years),intendedoractualassassinationattempts,secreteavesdropping,interruptingpostalcommunication,clandestineapartmentsearches,andvariouskindsofblackmailing

• Mistreatment,deathandtortureinGDRprisons• OrganizedsecretdopingofGDRathletes,including

minors,causinglastingphysicalandpsychologicaldamageordisability

• GDR-organizedespionageagainsttheFederalRepublicofGermanyupto1989

• WestGermantechnologyexportsintotheGDRviolatingexistingWesternCOCOM(“CoordinatingCommitteeforEast-WestTradePolicy”)tradeembargos

Bytheendofthe1990s,Germanloweraswellashighercourtsestablishedalargelyconsistentsystempertainingtoapplicationsofpastandcontemporarylaw.Afterabout15yearsofprosecutorialefforts,trials,verdicts,andacquittals,themostrecentcourtdecisiononGDR-erainjusticewasissuedin2005.Giventhelowprobabilityofdiscoveringfurthercasesofcommunistinjusticeaftermorethanadecadeofintensivescrutiny,andGermanamnestylaws

allowingonlyforfuturepersecutionofcrimesofextremelyseverenature,Germanlegaleffortstoaddresscommunistinjusticehavebasicallycometoaconclusion.

Resultsoftheseeffortsallowforthefollowingassessments:

• InitialprosecutionduringthelastyearoftheGDRwasmostlyconcernedwithpartyleadercorruption,electoralfraud,andembezzlement.ItbeganinNovember1989andlasteduntilGermanunificationdayof3October1990.Chargeswerefiledin180casesandresultedintheinvestigationof124accusedindividuals.Atleast42ofthemwereheldundertemporaryarrest.Ultimately41caseswerebroughttotrial,andGDRcourtssentenced26individualsbeforeOctober1990.

• Incontinuingthisprocessforcasesstillunresolved,andthroughasubstantialexpansionofthescopeofinvestigationsasoutlinedabove,federalandstateauthoritiesinunitedGermanycentralizedtheprosecutioninBerlinwithaspeciallyassignedteamofprosecutorstoadjudicatestate-sponsoredcrimeduringGDRtimes.

One-time compensation payments of about 430 U.S. dollars per month were granted to those who served in prison for political reasons

36t h e P o s t - C o m m u n i s t g e r m a n e x P e r i e n C e : s P e C i a l F e a t u r e s

C o m m u n i s t i n J u s t i C e B e F o r e t h e C o u r t s

• WithexactnumbersdifficulttodeterminegiventheinvolvementofvariousregionalcourtssystemsalloverGermany,theapproximateoverallestimateforlegalinvestigationsconductedamountstoroughly75,000casesinvolvingabout100,000individualsunderinitialsuspicion.Intheend,however,only1,021casesagainstaltogether1,737defendantswereactuallyslatedfortrial.14percent(143)ofthosecaseswerewithdrawnbytheprosecutionordismissedbythecourtsandsubsequentlyleftuntried.Allinall,chargeswerefiledandtriedincourtonlyincasesconcerningabout1,400individuals(1.4percent)outofthose100,000originallyunderinvestigation.

• Onlyabout54percent(about756inabsolutenumbers)ofdefendantschargedwereultimatelysentenced,24percent(about336)wereacquitted.Theremaining22percent(about308)werereleasedwhenproceedingsgotterminatedwithoutanysentencesissued.Onlyinsevenpercentofcasesprisonsentencesoftwoormoreyearswereissued.53percentofsentencesamountedtoonetotwoyearsofprisontimewhile47percentofthosewereverdictsoverlessthanoneyear.In92percentofallthose

37

casesprisonsentencesweresuspended.Defendantswereplacedonprobationandsubsequentlyreleased.

• Amajorcauseforthesenumberswasthehighaverageageofdefendants:Itamountedto58years,withonethirdoftheaccusedbeing64andolder.Manyofthoseweredeclaredunfittostandtrialorserveprisontimeforreasonsofhealth.

• About37percentofcasesbroughttotrialconcerned“perversionofjustice”inGDRtimesthrougharbitraryapplicationofexistinglaws,24percentconcernedtheuseofforceattheBerlinWallandtheintra-Germanborder,and14percentwerecrimescommittedbytheformerMinistryofStateSecurity.

• Thecomparativelyharshestsentences,inpartamountingtofiveyearsofprisontimeormore,wereissuedagainstformerWestGermancitizensconvictedofespionagefortheGDRaccordingtoWestGermanlaw,whichexplicitlysanctionsespionageagainsttheFederalRepublicofGermany.SentencesofformerGDRcitizenscommittingespionageagainsttheFRG,however,werecommutedsincetheydidnotfallunderthejurisdictionofpre-1990WestGermanlaw.

38t h e P o s t - C o m m u n i s t g e r m a n e x P e r i e n C e : s P e C i a l F e a t u r e s

C o m m u n i s t i n J u s t i C e B e F o r e t h e C o u r t s

ThosepurefiguresseeminglyindicatedformanyobserversinGermanyanunderperformanceofthelegalsysteminprovidingjusticeafter40yearsofstate-sponsoredcriminalactsintheGDR.However,inmanycasesprosecutorialhandsweretiedbyrespectivestipulationsofthe1990UnificationTreatybetweenthetwoGermanstates.Accordingtothose,onlysuchcrimesweresupposedtobesubjecttolegalsanctionsthatwerecommittedbefore1990inviolationofthen-existingGDRlaws.

Still,suchdidnotapplytocasesofsevereviolationsofhumanrights,liketheuseofdeadlyforceagainstrefugeesattemptingtoleavetheGDRthroughtheBerlinWallortheheavilyfortifiedintra-Germanborder.AccordingtoGDRlawsandregulations,itwasillegaltoleavethecountrywithoutauthorization,andthereforelegaltohinderthosedefyingstateordersbyforce.Inthiscase,however,thecourtsofunitedGermanytookrecourseinsupersedinginternationalhumanrightslaw.Theycompletelyreversedthetermsof“legality”and“illegality”withregardtotheuseofforcealongtheintra-Germanborder.InupholdingprisonsentencesissuedagainstGDRofficialsfromtheSEDPolitburo,theNationalDefenseCouncil,andthehigherechelonsofmilitaryborderunitswho

repeatedlyadoptedandre-confirmedtheshoot-to-killorderintheirrespectivemeetings,theGermanFederalConstitutionalCourtemphasizedtherelevanceofuniversallyapplicableinternationallawanditssupersedingeffectsoveranynationallegalconstructionswhichseverelyviolatedhumanrights.

Notwithstandingtheseverityorlenienceofsentencesissued,thesymbolicandfactualimpactofbringingcasestocourt,andarrivingatimpartialverdictswithvariousoutcomes,madesubstantialcontributionstowardsexploringthehistoricaltruthaboutcommunistinjusticecommittedinthepast.ThelegalprocessinunitedGermanywascharacterizedby

comprehensivenessandthoroughprofessionalism.Itstoodincontinu-anceofaprocessoflegalreckoninginitiatedintheGDRsinceNovember1989;anditdemonstratedthroughoverallmeasuredresultsthatithardly

representedanyvindictivepost-unification“victors’justice”.Thepublicverdictontheseresultswasmixed,though,encap-sulatedinastatementbyBärbelBohley,amajorprotagonistoftheEastGermananti-communistdissidentmovement:“Wewantedjustice,andwegottheruleoflaw”.

“We wanted justice, and we got the rule of law”

CommunistinjusticeintheGDRcouldbecomeverypersonal:Overall,hundredsofthousandsofpeoplewereeitherarrested,sentenced,expropriated,deported,ordiscriminatedagainstandwrongedforpoliticalreasons.

5. rehabilitatiOn, cOmpenSatiOn, reStitutiOn

41

An unknown number of people werekilledordiedincampsorprisons.Accordingtoestimates,therewereabout250,000politicalprisonersintheGDRoverthecourseof40years,andsomewhatover105,000verifiablecaseswherepeoplesufferedprofessionaldiscriminationforpoliticalreasons.Sincethefirst1992IndemnificationLaw,andasof2005,about170,000individualswererehabilitated.Also,theGermanForeignMinistrynegotiatedwithauthoritiesinterritoriesoftheformerSovietUnioncancellationsofcourtdecisionsandrespectiverehabilitationsforsofarabout13,500Germanswhoweresentencedafter1945onSovietterritoryforpoliticalreasons.

One-timefinancialcompensationspaidtoindividualsforGDRprisontermsviolatingtheruleoflaw,aswellasforadenialofaccesstoeducationandprofessions,havesofarexceededtheoverallamountof1.0billionU.S.dollars.Compensationshadalreadysurpassedthatlevel,whenin2007anadditionallawofferedtheoptionofpermanentmonthlyfinancialcompensationtoacertainnumberofqualifyingformerprisoners.

AmajorareaofredressingpastinjusticeincommunistEastGermanyisrepresentedbycasesofindividualrehabilitationandcompensation.Thisfeatureinitiatedinearly1990alreadywhenfirstmeasureswereundertakenbytheGDR’slastnominalsocialist-ledgovernment.Backthenadecreewasissuedtorehabilitateconvictedorotherwisepenalizedformercommunistpartydissidentsandordinarymembers.Ideologicallychargedverdictsfromcommunisttimeswerenullifieddatingbacktotheaftermathofthe1956Hungarianuprising.ThisrathernarrowconcentrationonformercommunistswassupersededbymorecomprehensiveandinclusiveconceptsintroducedthroughaRehabilitationLawpassedon6September1990bythefreelyelectedGDRparliamentfourweeksbeforeGermanunification.Itremainedineffectuntil4November1992whenunitedGermany’sparliamentadoptedthefirstso-called“CommunistInjusticeIndemnificationLaw”.ItofficiallyrehabilitatedvictimssentencedonpoliticalprovisionsofGDRcriminallaw.AllEastGermancourtdecisionsbetween8May1945and2October1990that“violatedtheruleoflaw”werenullified.

42t h e P o s t - C o m m u n i s t g e r m a n e x P e r i e n C e : s P e C i a l F e a t u r e s

r e h a B i l i t a t i o n , C o m P e n s a t i o n , r e s t i t u t i o n

On1July1994asecondparliamentary“CommunistInjusticeAmendingLaw”stipulatedtherehabilitation,andpossiblefinancialcompensation,ofvictimswhosufferedinGDRtimesfromadministrativeactsofpoliticalpersecutionbasedonideologicalorpoliticaldiscriminationoverthecourseoftheireducation(highschooland/oruniversityadmission)

orprofessionalcareers.Compen-sationwasofferedfrom1994toindemnifyallvalidatedclaimantsforcorrespondinglowerpaymentsafterretirement.One-timecompen-sationpaymentsofabout430U.S.dollarspermonthweregrantedto

thosewhoservedinprisonforpoliticalreasons.About100,000applicationsforthistypeofrehabilitationandcompensationwerefiled,androughlyhalfofthemgranted.Anothertypeofrehabilitationofferedbythe1994lawconcernedthenullifi-cationofGDRadministrativemeasuresleadingtohealthproblems,lossofassets,orpoliticaldiscriminationwithconsequencespersistingtothepresent.About25percentofroughly40,000motionsfiledinthisregardweregranted.Theburdenofproofforphysicalorpsychologicaldamagesandotherdetrimentssufferedwaslyingwiththevictimsofpersecution.

Followingpubliccontroversiesandamendmentsduringsubsequentyearsthatquestionedtheactualfinancialcommensurabilityofthe1994stipulations,theGermanparliamentpassedon23June2007athirdbilltoincreasecompensationsforvictimsofpoliticalpersecutionduringGDRtimes.Provisionsnowofferedapermanentmonthlypaymentof250Euro(about340U.S.dollars)tothoseformerpoliticalprisonerswhohadtoservejailtimesintheGDRofatleast6monthsandarecurrentlysufferingfromlowincome.

Anotherformofcompensationforpastinjusticeconsistedinmaterialrestitution.ItwasgrantedtoformerGDRcitizensincasesofforcedpropertylossorsale,anditwasappliedtoexpropriatedbusinessesaswellastoprivatehomeschangingownerships.ThespecialcaseofformerJewishpropertynationalizedduringGDRtimeswasexemptedfromstatuteoflimitationsin1991whentheparliamentofunitedGermangrantedtherighttofilerestitutionclaimsforthistypeofproperty.OnlymaterialrestitutionclaimsforSovietpropertyexpropriationexecutedduringtheperiodofmilitaryoccupationbetween1945and1949wereexemptedbyparliamentarylaw.Thismovebarelysurvivedvariouscourtchallenges,buton23March2005theEuropeanCourtfor

About 25 percent of roughly 40,000 motions filed in this regard were granted

43

HumanRightsinStrasbourgupheldGermancourtdecisionsvalidatingthislawandthussettledthiscontroversialmatterforgood.

Theactualprocessofpropertyreturnwasinitiatedbyadecreeissuedbythelastnon-electedGDRgovernmentbeforeEastGermany’sfirstfreeelectionsof18March1990.Afewmonthslater,withafreelyelectedGDRgovernmentinplace,ajointWestGerman-EastGermansettlementon“openpropertyquestions”wassignedinJuly1990.Ultimately,alawcodifiedwithWestGermanlegalexpertiseon23September1990andrepresentingoneofthelastactsofGDRparliamentbeforeunification,setthestageformanyyearsofclaimsand

subsequentadministrativeandcourtbattlesoverpropertyreturns.Boththe1990settlementandlawstipulatedmaterialrestitutionbutdeniedfinancialcompensationforlossofproperty:“RestitutionoverrulesCompensation”savedstrainedgovernmentbudgetsalloverGermanyfromlarge-scalepayments,butitalsoopenedaplethoraoflegalclaimsfrompeoplewho,forciblyorvoluntarily,leftpropertybehindwhentheyemigratedorfledfromtheSovietOccupationZoneortheGDRbetween1945and1989.Asmostclaimswereabletoproveandvalidatetheexistenceofformerpropertyrights,alargenumberofcasesofmaterialrestitutionwereimplementedincomplexanddrawn-outprocessesstretchingovermanyyears.

Bernd neumann, min ister of state and representat ive of the Federa l government for Cul ture, winner of the student ’s compet i t ion »geschichts-codes« and rainer eppelmann

Director anna Kaminsky opens an exhib i t ion at the arD (german associat ion of publ ic broadcasters) headquar ters in Ber l in

II. FEDERAlFOUnDATIOnFORThEREAPPRAISAlOF COmmUnISTDICTATORShIP(BUnDESSTIFTUnG zURAUFARBEITUnGDERSED-DIKTATUR)

Between1992and1998twoEnquete(inquiry)CommissionsestablishedbyparliamentarymandateintwosubsequentsessionperiodsoftheGermanfederalparliament(Bundestag)investigatedthehistoryoftheSEDdictatorshipanditseffectsonGermanunity.Thecommissioninsessionbetween1992and1994wasassignedtodealwith“ComingtoTermswithHistoryandConsequencesoftheSEDDictatorshipinGermany”.

1. OriginS:parliamentaryinquiry cOmmiSSiOnSandinitiativeS

46F e D e r a l F o u n D a t i o n F o r t h e r e a P P r a i s a l o F C o m m u n i s t D i C t a t o r s h i P

o r i g i n s : P a r l i a m e n t a r y i n q u i r y C o m m i s s i o n s a n D i n i t i a t i v e s

Its successor commissionrunningfrom1995to1998wastaskedwithaddressing“OvercomingtheConsequencesoftheSEDDictatorshipwithintheProcessofGermanUnity”.Altogether,bothcommissionspublished34volumeswithmorethan30,000pagescontainingcompletetranscriptsofpublichearingsandnumerouscommissionedexpertanalysesonawiderangeofhistoricalandcurrentsubjects.

Onrecommendationbythesecondcommissionofinquiry,theGermanfederalparliamentenactedon5June1998alawontheestablishmentofafederal“FederalFoundationfortheReappraisaloftheSED-Dictatorship”(Bundesstiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur).Thefoundationstarteditsworkinfallof1998,andthusapublic-fundedinstitutionalclearinghousewascreatedtoraisepublicawarenessandcontinuediscussionsaboutthesecondGermandictatorship.

ByitsmandatereceivedfromawidemajorityofpartiesrepresentedinGermanparliament,thefoundationstandsforanactiveandpluralisticdiscussionoftheSEDdictatorshipanditslastingeffectsonreunitedGermany.Itfunctionsasbothamediatorandintermediarybetweenacademicandprivateresearch,politics,themedia,andthepublicpertainingtothereappraisaloftheSEDdictatorship.Thefoundation’slibrarywithits45,000itemsanduniquearchivewiththeircollectionsofmaterialonrepressedliteratureandoppositionalactivitiesintheGDRprovidesdocumentarymaterialtoaidresearchers.Since1998thefoundationhassupportedmorethan2,000research,documentationandexhibitionprojectsinGermanyandvariouscountriesofCentralandEasternEurope,spendingaltogethermorethan26millionU.S.dollarsfortheseprojects.

The Federal Foundation for the Reappraisal of the SED Dictatorship contributed towards the realization of more than 2,200 exhibitions, publications, conferences, workshops and documentary fi lms

TheBoardofTrustees(Stiftungsrat)comprisesof16memberselectedforafive-yearterm.Itservesasthecentraldecision-makingbodyoftheFoundation.

2. StructureOFthe FOundatiOn

49

It consists of members of the German parliamentrepresentingallitsfactions,membersappointedbyministriesoftheGermanfederalandtheBerlincitygovernment,aswellasoffiveindividualsnominatedbyfederalparliamentaryfactionswhoareespeciallycommittedtodealwithchallengesandquestionsofcomingtotermswiththeSEDdictatorship.TheChairmanoftheBoardisMarkusMeckel,vice-chairmanthememberofGermanparliamentHartmutKoschyk.TheBoardofTrusteesdecidesonallfundamentalquestionsconcerningthefoundation’sgeneralobjectivesandactivities.

TheBoardofDirectors(Stiftungsvorstand),workingonahonorarybasis,guidesthemoreconcretetasksofthefoundation.Itconsistsoffivemembers:RainerEppelmann(chairman),BerndFaulenbach(vice-chairman),AnnemarieFranke,GerdPoppe,andGerryKley.Theboardissupportedandadvisedbythreeadvisorycommitteesonacademic,societalreappraisal,andarchivalissues.Thosecommitteesconsistofaltogether32individuals.

50F e D e r a l F o u n D a t i o n F o r t h e r e a P P r a i s a l o F C o m m u n i s t D i C t a t o r s h i P

s t r u C t u r e o F t h e F o u n D a t i o n

TheOfficeoftheFoundationisdirectedbyDr.AnnaKaminskyandcurrentlyemploysastaffof22.Itisinchargeofallissuesandquestionsconcerningtheactivitiesofthefoundation,includingthefundingofprojects,allocationofscholarships,andtheorganizationofconferencesandotherevents.Thefoundation’sofficeservesasamediatorbetweenvariousorganizationsandinstitutionsinGermanycommittedtoresearch,documentandinvestigatethehistoryoftheSEDdictatorshipanditsconsequences;inthiscontexttheofficealsoprovidesinformationandadviceaboutprofessionaldevelopment.

The foundation raises public awareness and continues discussions about the second German dictatorship

TheFoundationcontributes,incooperationwithotherinstitutions,toacomprehensivereappraisaloforiginsandcauses,historyandimpactofthecommunistdictatorshipinEastGermanybetween1945and1989.

3. mandateand ScOpe:ServiceS andactivitieS

53

It aims to provide testimonytoinjusticescommittedbytheSEDregimeandtorecognizevictims,tofurthertheanti-totalitarianconsensuswithinGermany,andtostrengthendemocracyandGermanunity.Thefoundationwasestablishedtoservethefollowingaims:

• topromoteandsupportprojectsdealingwithexploringGDRsociety,privatearchivesandvictim’sorganizations,academicresearch,andpoliticaleducation;

• tocontributetothemaintenance,collectionanddocumentationofmaterialswithregardtooppositiontotheSEDdictatorship;

• toprovidepsychologicalandlegalassistanceforvictimsofpoliticalpersecution;

• toadvanceinternationalcooperationonthereappraisalofdictatorshipsworldwide;

• tocontributetopublicdiscoursewithitsownpublicationsandevents;

• toawardprizesandscholarships.

Currentlythefoundationhasanannualbudgetofabout7.6millionU.S.dollarssuppliedbytheGermanFederalGovernmentonmandateoftheGermanparliament.Ithasanendowmentofabout120millionU.S.dollars,mostlyderivedfromassetsformerlyheldbytheEastGermanCommunistPartySEDandallocatedtothefoundationbydecisionoftheGermanparliament.

54F e D e r a l F o u n D a t i o n F o r t h e r e a P P r a i s a l o F C o m m u n i s t D i C t a t o r s h i P

m a n D a t e a n D s C o P e : s e r v i C e s a n D a C t i v i t i e s

Sinceitsestablishmentin1998,thefoundation

• contributedtowardstherealizationofmorethan2,200exhibitions,publications,conferences,workshopsanddocumentaryfilms

• awardedmorethan31millionU.S.dollarsingrants• awardedmorethan75dissertationscholarships• builtitsownlibraryandarchiveswithmorethan45,000

books,40,000copiesofun-publishedundergroundliterature,40,000photographs,and3,700piecesofart

• undertakesandpublishescontinuouslydocumentationsfeaturingmemorialsandcommemorativesitesofmorethan800largerandsmallerGermanmemorialsitesto

commemoratethecommunistdictatorshipandkeepitsmemoryalive;alsofeaturedspecialdocumentationsconcerningrepressioninothernationsintheformercommunistbloclike,forexample,theGreatTerrorinRussia,HolodomorinUkraine,Belarus,thePragueSpring,ortheHungarianUprising1956.

• establishedpartnershipswithmorethan300institutionsworldwide

Contact:Bundesstiftung zur aufarbeitung der seD-DiktaturKronenstraße 5 | D-10117 BerlinPhone:+49(0)303198950Fax:+49(0)30319895210Mail:buero@stiftung-aufarbeitung.dewww.stiftung-aufarbeitung.de

Comprehensive exploration about structures of a dictatorial past, as well as the commemoration of acts of civic courage and resistance, were seen as necessary preconditions for living in a healthy democracy

III. OThERGERmAnAnDInTERnATIOnAl InSTITUTIOnS:ABRIEFOVERVIEw

Since1990alloverGermany,andparticularlysointhefivenewfederalstatesonformerEastGermancommunistterritory,awiderangeofpubliclyandprivatelyfundedinstitutionswereestablished.Regionalandlocalinitiativesemerged,andvictimsassociationsandNGOswereformed.Allofthemcontributeactivelytoacomingtotermswiththelegacyofthecommunistdictatorshipandthecrimesitcommitted.AsignificantnumberofmuseumsandmemorialswereopenedonhistoricsitesofrepressionandofGermandivision.Withoutclaimingtobeexhaustive,thefollowingoverviewwillintroducesomeimportantinstitutions.

58o t h e r g e r m a n i n s t i t u t i o n s : a B r i e F o v e r v i e w

F e D e r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s

— FEDERAlCOmmISSIOnERFORSTASIRECORDSOFThEFORmERGDR(BSTU)

DerBundesbeauftragtefürdieUnterlagendesStaatssicherheitsdienstesderehemaligenDDR(BStU)

ShortdescriptionTheOfficeoftheFederalCommissionerforStasiRecords(Bundesbeauftragte für die Unterlagen des Staatssicher-heitsdienstes)preservestherecordsoftheMinistryforStateSecurity(MfS)oftheGDRinitsarchives.Itmakesthemavailableforvariouspurposestoprivateindividuals,institutions,andthepublicinaccordancewithaccessrulesstipulatedbyGermany’sStasiRecordsLaw(StUG).ItalsohelpstocreatepublicawarenessofthevastscopeofStasioperationsduringGDRtimesthroughexhibitions,events,publications,andpublicoutreach.

1. FederalinStitutiOnS postaladdressKarl-Liebknecht-Straße31–33|D-10178Berlin

contactinformationPhone:+49302324-0E-mail:info@bstu.bund.de

Websitewww.bstu.de

englishversionwww.bstu.bund.de/nn_715182/EN/Home/homepage__node.html__nnn=true__nnn=true

— STATECOmmISSIOnERFORSTASIRECORDS DieLandesbeauftragtenfürdieUnterlagendes

StaatssicherheitsdienstesderehemaligenDDR

ShortdescriptionAllsixformereasternfederalStateshasappointedaStateCommissionerforStasirecords(LStU).TheLStUaresupposedtosupporttheFederalCommissionerforStasiRecords(BStU)initsmission,thoughtheLStUacts

59

independentlyonthestatelevelanddoesnotreporttotheBStU.TheLStUadvisecitizensfromtheirstatetoapplyforaccesstotheirStasifiles.TheyofferpsychologicalhelpandconsultationsonlegaloptionsforrehabilitationandcompensationtothosewhosufferedinGDRtimes

fromimpactsofoperationsconductedbytheMinistryforStateSecurity.Also,theLStUhelptocreatepublicawarenessofStasioperationsduringGDRtimesthroughexhibitions,events,publications,andpublicoutreach.

the Federa l Commiss ioner for stas i records (Bstu) : Joachim gauck (1990–2000) , mar ianne Bi r th ler (2000–2011) with anna Kaminsky and roland Jahn (ass igned in 2011) ta lk ing to the journal ist ha- Jo lorenz

60o t h e r g e r m a n i n s t i t u t i o n s : a B r i e F o v e r v i e w

F e D e r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s

• StateCommissionerforStasiRecordsBerlinDer Berliner Landesbeauftragte für die Unterlagen des Staatssicherheitsdienstes der ehemaligen DDRpostaladdress

Scharrenstraße17|D-10178Berlincontactinformation

Phone:+49302407920E-mail:lstu-berlin@t-online.de

Websitewww.berlin.de/lstu

• StateCommissionerinBrandenburgforComingtoTermswithConsequencesofCommunistDictatorshipDie Landesbeauftragte zur Aufarbeitung der Folgen der kommunistischen Diktatur des Landes Brandenburgpostaladdress

Hegelallee3|D-14467Potsdamcontactinformation

Phone:+493312372920E-mail:aufarbeitung@lakd.brandenburg.de

Websitewww.aufarbeitung.brandenburg.de/sixcms/detail.php?template=start_aufarbeitung

• StateCommissionerforStasiRecordsmecklenburg-VorpommernDie Landesbeauftragte für Mecklenburg-Vorpommernfür die Unterlagen des Staatssicherheitsdienstesder ehemaligen DDRpostaladdress

Jägerweg2|D-19053Schwerincontactinformation

Phone:+49385734006E-mail:post@lstu.mv-regierung.de

Websitewww.landesbeauftragter.de

• StateCommissionerforStasiRecordsSaxonyDer sächsische Landesbeauftragte für die Unterlagen des Staatssicherheitsdienstes der ehemaligen DDRpostaladdress

UntererKreuzweg1|D-01097Dresdencontactinformation

Phone:+49351656810Fax:+4935165681-20E-mail:inof@lstu.smj.sachsen.de

Websitewww.justiz.sachsen.de/lstu

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• StateCommissionerforStasiRecordsSaxony-Anhalt

Der Landesbeauftragte Sachsen-Anhalt für die Unterlagen des Staatssicherheitsdienstes der ehemaligen DDRpostaladdress

Klewitzstraße4|D-39112Magdeburgcontactinformation

Phone:+493915675051Fax:+493915675060E-mail:info@lstu.justiz.sachsen-halt.de

Websitewww.sachsen-anhalt.de/LPSA/index.php?id=5750

• StateCommissionerforStasiRecordsThuringia Die Landesbeauftragte des Freistaats Thüringen

für die Unterlagen des Staatssicherheitsdienstes der ehemaligen DDRpostaladdress

Jürgen-Fuchs-Straße1|D-99096Erfurt

contactinformationPhone:+493613771951Fax:+493613771952E-mail:TLStU@t-online.de

Websitewww.thueringen.de/de/tlstu

— FEDERAlAGEnCyFORCIVICEDUCATIOnBundeszentralefürpolitischeBildung(bpb)

ShortdescriptionTheFederalAgencyforCivicEducation(Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung/bpb)isapublicinstitutionthatpromotesdemocraticawarenessandpoliticalparticipation.Itsvariousprintpublications,dossiers,andDVDscoverabroadrangeofcurrentandhistoricalissuesinthefieldofpolitics,economy,andsociety.Further,thebpboffersseminars,conferences,culturalevents,studytrips,exhibitionsandcompetitions,andprovidessupportfor

62o t h e r g e r m a n i n s t i t u t i o n s : a B r i e F o v e r v i e w

F e D e r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s

partnerinstitutionsworkinginciviceducation.Theportfolioincludesspecialoffersforteachers,civiceducationpractitioners,journalists,andyoungpeople.Allthebpb’sactivitiesaimtomotivatepeopleandencouragethemtoreflectonpoliticalandsocialissues.postaladdress

Adenauerallee86|D-53113Bonncontactinformation

Phone:+4922899515200E-mail:info@bpb.de

Websitewww.bpb.de

informationinenglishwww.bpb.de/die_bpb/PE8IKY(aboutbpb),www.bpb.de/nece(thebpb’sEuropeanprogram)

— FEDERAlSTATEARChIVBERlIn–KOBlEnzBundesarchivKoblenzpostaladdress

PotsdamerStraße1|D-56075Koblenzcontactinformation

Phone:+492615050Fax:+49261505226E-mail:koblenz@bundesarchiv.de

Federa l state archiv Koblenz

63

• Bayrischeshauptstaatsarchivpostaladdress

Schönfeldstraße5–11|D-80539Münchencontactinformation

Phone:+4989286382596Fax:+4989286382954E-mail:poststelle@bayhsta.bayern.de

Websitewww.gda.bayern.de/index.php

informationinenglishwww.gda.bayern.de/enp1.htm

• landesarchivBerlinpostaladdress

Eichborndamm115–121|D-13403Berlincontactinformation

Phone:+4930902640Fax:+493090264201E-mail:info@landesarchiv-berlin.de

Websitewww.landesarchiv-berlin.de/lab-neu/start.html

Websitewww.bundesarchiv.de/index.html.de

informationinenglishwww.bundesarchiv.de/index.html.en

— STATEARChIVESLandesarchive

• landesarchivBaden-württembergpostaladdress

Eugenstraße7|D-70182Stuttgartcontactinformation

Phone:+497112124272Fax:+497112124283E-mail:landesarchiv@la-bw.de

Websitewww.landesarchiv-bw.de/web/

informationinenglishwww.landesarchiv-bw.de/web/49435

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F e D e r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s

• Brandenburgischeslandeshauptarchivpostaladdress

ZumWindmühlenberg|D-14469Potsdamcontactinformation

Phone:+4933156740Fax:+493315674212E-mail:poststelle@blha.brandenburg.de

Websitewww.landeshauptarchiv-brandenburg.de

informationinenglishwww.landeshauptarchiv-brandenburg.de/netCmsFrames.aspx?URL=english_0.aspx

• StaatsarchivBremenpostaladdress

AmStaatsarchiv1|D-28203Bremencontactinformation

Phone:+494213616221Fax:+4942136110247E-mail:office@staatsarchiv.bremen.de

Websitewww.staatsarchiv.bremen.de/sixcms/detail.php?gsid=bremen02.c.730.de

• Staatsarchivhamburgpostaladdress

Kattunbleiche19|D-22041Hamburgcontactinformation

Phone:+4940428313200Fax:+4940428313201E-mail:poststelle@staatsarchiv.hamburg.de

Websitewww.hamburg.de/staatsarchiv

• hessischeshauptstaatsarchivpostaladdress

MosbacherStraße55|D-65187Wiesbadencontactinformation

Phone:+496118810Fax:+49611881145E-mail:poststelle@hhstaw.hessen.de

Websitewww.hauptstaatsarchiv.hessen.de

65

• landeshauptarchivmecklenburg-Vorpommernpostaladdress

Graf-Schack-Allee2|D-19053Schwerincontactinformation

Phone:+4938558879410Fax:+4938558879412E-mail:poststelle@landeshauptarchiv-schwerin.de

Websitewww.kulturwerte-mv.de/cms2/LAKD_prod/LAKD/content/de/Landesarchiv/Landeshauptarchiv_Schwerin/index.jsp

informationinenglishwww.kulturwerte-mv.de/cms2/LAKD_prod/LAKD/content/de/Landesarchiv/The_archives_in_English/index.jsp

• niedersächsischeslandesarchivpostaladdress

AmArchiv1|D-30169Hannovercontactinformation

Phone:+495111206601Fax:+495111206639E-mail:poststelle@nla.niedersachsen.de

Websitewww.staatsarchive.niedersachsen.de/live/live.php?navigation_id=24756&_psmand=187

• landesarchivnordrhein-westfalenpostaladdress

Graf-Adolf-Straße67|D-40210Düsseldorfcontactinformation

Phone:+492111592380Fax:+49211159238111E-mail:poststelle@lav.nrw.de

Websitewww.archive.nrw.de/LandesarchivNRW/

• landeshauptarchivRheinland-Pfalzpostaladdress

Karmeliterstraße1/3|D-56068Koblenzcontactinformation

Phone:+4926191290Fax:+492619129112E-mail:post@landeshauptarchiv.de

Websitewww.landeshauptarchiv.de

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F e D e r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s

• ArchivdesSaarlandespostaladdress

Dudweilerstraße1|D-66133Saarbrückencontactinformation

Phone:+4968150100Fax:+496815011933E-mail:landesarchiv@landesarchiv.saarland.de

Websitewww.saarland.de/SID-3E724395-7E2E639A/landesarchiv.htm

• SächsischesStaatsarchivpostaladdress

Wilhelm-Buck-Straße4|D-01097Dresdencontactinformation

Phone:+493515643740Fax:+493515643739E-mail:poststelle@sta.smi.sachsen.de

Websitewww.staatsarchiv.sachsen.de

• landeshauptarchivSachsen-Anhalt (Abt.magdeburg)

postaladdressHegelstraße25|D-39104Magdeburg

contactinformationPhone:+4939156643Fax:+493915664440E-mail:poststelle@lha.mi.sachsen-anhalt.de

Websitewww.sachsen-anhalt.de/LPSA/index.php?id=32023

• landesarchivSchleswig-holsteinpostaladdress

Prinzenpalais|D-24837Schleswigcontactinformation

Phone:+494621861800Fax:+494621861801E-mail:landesarchiv@la.landsh.de

Websitewww.schleswig-holstein.de/LA/DE/LA_node.html

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• Thüringischeshauptstaatsarchivpostaladdress

Marstallstraße2|D-99423Weimarcontactinformation

Phone:+4936438700Fax:+493643870100E-mail:meiningen@staatsarchive.thueringen.de

Websitewww.thueringen.de/de/staatsarchive/weimar/content.html

— STATEAGEnCIESFORCIVICEDUCATIOn LandeszentralenfürpolitischeBildung

• landeszentralefürpolitischeBildung Baden-württemberg

postaladdressStafflenbergstraße38|D-70184Stuttgart

contactinformationPhone:+497111640990Fax:+4971116409977E-mail:lpb@lpb-bw.de

Websitewww.lpb-bw.de/lpb_index.html

• landeszentralefürpolitischeBildungBayernpostaladdress

Praterinsel2|D-80538Münchencontactinformation

Phone:+498921862172Fax:+498921862180E-mail:landeszentrale@stmuk.bayern.de

Websitewww.km.bayern.de/blz

• landeszentralefürpolitischeBildungBerlinpostaladdress

AnderUrania4–10|D-10787Berlincontactinformation

Phone:+493090162552Fax:+493090162538E-mail:landeszentrale@senbwf.berlin.de

Websitewww.berlin.de/lzpb/index.html

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F e D e r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s

• landeszentralefürpolitischeBildungBrandenburgpostaladdress

Heinrich-Mann-Allee107|D-14473Potsdamcontactinformation

Phone:+493318663541Fax:+493318663544E-mail:info@blzpb.brandenburg.de

Websitewww.politische-bildung-brandenburg.de/index.html

• landeszentralefürpolitischeBildungBremenpostaladdress

Osterdeich6|D-28203Bremencontactinformation

Phone:+494213612922Fax:+494213614453E-mail:office@lzpb.bremen.de

Websitewww.lzpb-bremen.de/sixcms/detail.php?gsid=bremen02.c.730.de

• landeszentralefürpolitischeBildunghamburgpostaladdress

Dammtorstraße14|D-20354Hamburgcontactinformation

Phone:+4940428234826Fax:+4940428234813E-mail:PolitischeBildung@bsb.hamburg.de

Websitewww.hamburg.de/politische-bildung/

• landeszentralefürpolitischeBildunghessenpostaladdress

Taunusstraße4–6|D-65183Wiesbadencontactinformation

Phone:+49611324051Fax:+49611324077E-Mail:hlz@hlz.hessen.de

Websitewww.hlz.hessen.de

69

• landeszentralefürpolitischeBildung mecklenburg-Vorpommern

postaladdressJägerweg2|D-19053Schwerin

contactinformationPhone:+493853020910Fax:+493853020922E-mail:poststelle@lpb.mv-regierung.de

Websitewww.lpb-mv.de/cms2/LfpB_prod/LfpB/de/start/index.jsp

• landeszentralefürpolitischeBildung nordrhein-westfalen

postaladdressHorionplatz1|D-40213Düsseldorf

contactinformationPhone:+4921186184615Fax:+4921186184675E-mail:info@politische-bildung.nrw.de

Websitewww.politische-bildung.nrw.de

• landeszentralefürpolitischeBildung Rheinland-Pfalz

postaladdressAmKronbergerHof6|D-55116Mainz

contactinformationPhone:+496131162970Fax:+496131162980E-mail:lpb.zentrale@politische-bildung-rlp.de

Websitewww.politische-bildung-rlp.de

• landeszentralefürpolitischeBildungSaarlandpostaladdress

Beethovenstraße26/Pavillon|D-66125Saarbrückencontactinformation

Phone:+4968977908144Fax:+4968977908177E-mail:lpb@lpm.uni-sb.de

Websitewww.lpm.uni-sb.de/typo3/index.php?id=978

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F e D e r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s

• landeszentralefürpolitischeBildungSachsenpostaladdress

Schützenhofstraße36|D-01129Dresdencontactinformation

Phone:+49351853180Fax:+493518531855E-mail:info@slpb.smk.sachsen.de

Websitewww.slpb.de

• landeszentralefürpolitischeBildung Sachsen-Anhalt

postaladdressSchleinufer12|D-39104Magdeburg

contactinformationPhone:+493915676463Fax:+493915676464E-mail:politische.bildung@lpb.stk.sachsen-anhalt.de

Websitewww.sachsen-anhalt.de/LPSA/index.php?id=5752

• landeszentralefürpolitischeBildung Schleswig-holstein

postaladdressKehdenstraße27|D-24103Kiel

contactinformationPhone:+494319885937Fax:+494319885942E-mail:info@lpb.landsh.de

Websitewww.schleswig-holstein.de/LPB/DE/LPB_node.html

informationinenglishwww.schleswig-holstein.de/LPB/EN/LPB_node.html

• landeszentralefürpolitischeBildungThüringenpostaladdress

Regierungsstraße73|D-99084Erfurtcontactinformation

Phone:+493613792701Fax:+493613792702E-mail:heike.hartmann@tsk.thueringen.de

Websitewww.thueringen.de/de/lzt/content.html

informationinenglishwww.thueringen.de/de/lzt/ec/

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— COnTEmPORARyhISTORyFORUmlEIPzIG ZeitgeschichtlichesForumLeipzig

ShortdescriptionTheContemporaryHistoryForum(Zeitgeschichtliches Forum)isthemostimportantmuseumcommemoratingthehistoryofGDRrepression,opposition,resistanceandpeacefulrevolutionbeforethebackgroundofGermandivision.SituatedinLeipzig’scitycenterwhereinfallof1989themassivepath-breakingdemonstrationsagainstthedictatorialregimetookplace,italsodocumentsevery-daylifeundercommunistdictatorshipandtheprocessofreunificationafter1990.TheForumistheLeipzigbranchoftheHistoryMuseumoftheFederalRepublicofGermanylocatedinWestGermany’sformerfederalcapitalinBonn.postaladdress

GrimmaischeStraße6|D-04109Leipzigcontactinformation

Phone:+493412220-0E-mail:zfl@hdg.de

Websitewww.hdg.de/leipzig

Contemporar y histor y Forum leipz ig

72o t h e r g e r m a n i n s t i t u t i o n s : a B r i e F o v e r v i e w

C i v i C a r C h i v e s

2.civicarchiveS

BesidestheStateFederalArchiveandtheArchiveoftheFederalCommissionerofStasi-recordsseveralcivicarchivesresultingfromthecivicoppositionmovementareworking:

— ROBERT-hAVEmAnn-GESEllSChAFTE.V.postaladdress

Schliemannstraße23|D-10437Berlincontactinformation

Phone:+493044710813Fax:+493044710819E-mail:info@havemann-gesellschaft.de

Websitewww.havemann-gesellschaft.de

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— ARChIVBüRGERBEwEGUnGlEIPzIGE.V.postaladdress

Katharinenstraße11(Fregehaus)|D-04109Leipzigcontactinformation

Phone:+493418611626Fax:+493418611626E-mail:info@archiv-buergerbewegung.de

Websitewww.archiv-buergerbewegung.de

— UmwElTBIBlIOThEKGROSShEnnERSDORFpostaladdress

AmSportplatz3|D-02747Großhennersdorfcontactinformation

Phone:+493587340503Fax:+493587330921E-mail:mail@umweltbibliothek.org

Websitewww.umweltbibliothek.org

— ThüRInGERARChIVFüRzEITGESChIChTEpostaladdress

CamsdorferUfer17|D-07749Jenacontactinformation

Phone:+493641228605Fax:+493641229743E-mail:archiv@thueraz.de

Websitewww.thueraz.de

74o t h e r g e r m a n i n s t i t u t i o n s : a B r i e F o v e r v i e w

o t h e r i n s t i t u t i o n s , m u s e u m s a n D m e m o r i a l s i t e s

3. OtherinStitutiOnS, muSeumSand memOrialSiteS

— STASImUSEUmBERlIn

ShortdescriptionTheStasiMuseumBerlin(Forschungs- und Gedenkstätte Normannenstraße/Haus I)isaprivateinitiativelocatedin“House1”oftheformerGDRMinistryforStateSecurity’sheadquarterscomplexintheEastBerlindistrictofLichtenberg.Atthatverylocationlong-timeGDRStasiMinisterErichMielke(1957–1989)hadhisoffices.Theyarepreservedinitsoriginalconditionandopentovisitors.FurtherpartsoftheexhibitdealwithStateSecuritytechnologyandvariousobjects,aswellaswithoppositionandresistanceintheGDR.

postaladdressRuschestraße103,Haus1|D-10365Berlin

contactinformationPhone:+49305536854Fax:+49305536853E-mail:mfsmuseum@aol.com

Websitewww.stasimuseum.de

englishversionwww.stasimuseum.de/en/enindex.htm

— “ROUnDCORnER” STASImEmORIAlmUSEUmlEIPzIG Museuminder“RundenEcke”Leipzig

ShortdescriptionTheCitizensCommitteeofLeipzig(Bürgerkomitee Leipzig),originatingin1989,openedthissubsequentlydevelopedexhibitin1990alreadyintheauthenticsiteofformerStasidistrictheadquarters(referredtoas“round

75

corner”duetobuilding’speculiarshape).TodaytheCitizensCommitteeeducatesabouthistory,structure,andmethodsoftheStasi.Itactivelyparticipatesinpublicdebatesaboutdictatorshipsandlessonsapplicabletodiscoursesoncivillibertiesandhumanrights.postaladdress

Dittrichring24|D-04109Leipzigcontactinformation

Phone:+493419612443Fax:+493419612499E-mail:mail@runde-ecke-leipzig.de

Websitewww.runde-ecke-leipzig.de/cms

englishversionwww.runde-ecke-leipzig.de/cms/index.php?id=76&L=1

“round Corner” stas i memor ia l museum leipz ig

76o t h e r g e r m a n i n s t i t u t i o n s : a B r i e F o v e r v i e w

o t h e r i n s t i t u t i o n s , m u s e u m s a n D m e m o r i a l s i t e s

— FORmERSOVIETSPECIAl InTERnmEnTCAmPS

AfterthedemiseofNaziGermanyandtheSecondWorldWar’sendinginEurope,SovietmilitaryauthoritiesusedinpartNaziconcentrationcampsitesinEasternGermanybetween1945and1950fortheirten“specialinternmentcamps”todetainsomereal,andmanyalleged,national-socialists.About43,000,i.e.35percentofindividualsinterned,perishedduringtheirconfinement.Thetencamps,listedinthesequenceofnumberingassignedbySovietauthorities,were:Mühlberg,Buchenwald,Berlin-Hohenschönhausen,Bautzen,Ketschendorf/Fürstenwalde,Frankfurt/OderandlaterJamlitz,WeesowandlaterSachsenhausen,Torgau/FortZinna,Fünfeichen,Torgau/SeydlitzBarracks.

Inthefollowinglocationspermanentexhibitions,gravesites,andmemorialscommemoratethesecampsandtheplightoftheirinmates:

• Buchenwaldmemorial Gedenkstätte Buchenwald

postaladdressD-99427Weimar-BuchenwaldcontactinformationPhone:+4936434300Fax:+493643430100E-mail:buchenwald@buchenwald.de

Websitewww.buchenwald.de

englishversionwww.buchenwald.de/english

• mittelbau-Doramemorial KZ-Gedenkstätte Mittelbau-Dora

postaladdressKohnsteinweg20|D-99734Nordhausen

contactinformationPhone:+49363149580Fax:+493631495813E-mail:info@dora.de

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Websitewww.dora.de

englishversionwww.dora.de/index_cten.html

• InitiativgruppeInternierungslager Ketschendorfe.V.

postaladdressFrankfurterStraße4|D-15517Fürstenwalde

contactinformationPhone:+49-3361-307873E-mail:info@uokg.de

Websitewww.uokg.de/Text2/Mit-Ketsch01.htm

• InitiativgruppeInternierungslagerJamlitze.V.postaladdress

Bergmannsweg9|D-03159Groß-Kölzigcontactinformation

Phone:+49356006552E-mail:info@uokg.de

Websitewww.uokg.de/Text2/Mit-Jamlitz01.htm

memor ia l and museum sachsenhausen

• memorialandmuseumSachsenhausen Gedenkstätte und Museum Sachsenhausen

postaladdressStraßederNationen22|D-16515Oranienburg

contactinformationPhone:+493301810912Fax:+493301810928E-mail:info@gedenkstätte-sachsenhausen.de

Websitewww.stiftung-bg.de/gums/de/index.htm

englishversionwww.stiftung-bg.de/gums/en/index.htm

78o t h e r g e r m a n i n s t i t u t i o n s : a B r i e F o v e r v i e w

o t h e r i n s t i t u t i o n s , m u s e u m s a n D m e m o r i a l s i t e s

• DocumentationandInformationCentre(DIz)Torgau Dokumentations- und Informationszentrum (DIZ) Torgau

postaladdressSchlossHartenfels,Schlossstraße27|D-04860Torgau

contactinformationPhone:+493421713468Fax:+493421714932E-mail:info@diz-torgau.de

Websitewww.stsg.de/cms/torgau/startseite

englishversionen.stsg.de/cms/node/876/

• memorialneubrandenburg Gedenkstätte Neubrandenburg (Fünfeichen)

postaladdressRosenstraße13–15|D-17033Neubrandenburg

contactinformationPhone:+493955551800Fax:+493955551861E-mail:stadt@neubrandenburg.de

Websitewww.neubrandenburg.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=103

memor ia l neubrandenburg

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— mEmORIAlSITESInFORmERGDRPRISOnS

Thefollowingformerprisonsites,runduringcommunisttimesbytheformerGDRMinistryofInteriorandtheMinistryofStateSecurity,heldnumerouspoliticalprisoners.Todaytheyserveaspermanentpublicmemorials,featureguidedtoursandexhibitions,andholdeventstocommemoratevictimsofpoliticalpersecutionandrepression.

• Bautzenmemorial Gedenkstätte Bautzen

postaladdressWeigangstraße8A|D-02625Bautzen

contactinformationPhone:+49359140474Fax:+49359140475E-mail:info.bautzen@stsg.smwk.sachsen.de

Websitewww.stsg.de/cms/bautzen/startseite

englishversionen.stsg.de/cms/node/977/

Bautzen memor ia l

80o t h e r g e r m a n i n s t i t u t i o n s : a B r i e F o v e r v i e w

o t h e r i n s t i t u t i o n s , m u s e u m s a n D m e m o r i a l s i t e s

contactinformationPhone:+493098608230Fax:+4930986082464E-mail:info@stiftung-hsh.de

Websitewww.stiftung-hsh.de

englishversionen.stiftung-hsh.de/document.php?cat_id=CAT_231&special=0

• Andreasstrassememorial Gedenkstätte Andreasstraße Freiheit e. V. Förderverein Gedenkstätte Andreasstraße

postaladdressBechtheimerStraße2|D-99084Erfurt

contactinformationPhone:+491775972723E-mail:freiheit@andreasstrasse-erfurt.de

Websitewww.andreasstrasse-erfurt.de

Ber l in -hohenschönhausen memor ia l

• Berlin-hohenschönhausenmemorial Gedenkstätte Berlin-Hohenschönhausen

postaladdressGenslerstraße66|D-13055Berlin

81

• memorial“RedOx”halle Gedenkstätte ‘Roter Ochse’ Halle

postaladdressAmKirchtor20B|D-06108Halle

contactinformationPhone:+493452201337Fax:+493452201339E-mail:info-roterochse@stgs.sachsen-anhalt.de

Websitewww.sachsen-anhalt.de/LPSA/index.php?id=31471

• memorialmagdeburgmoritzplatz Gedenkstätte Moritzplatz Magdeburg

postaladdressUmfassungsstraße76|D-39124Magdeburg

contactinformationPhone:+493912445590Fax:+4939124455999E-mail:Info-Moritzplatz@stgs.sachsen-anhalt.de

Websitewww.sachsen-anhalt.de/LPSA/index.php?id=31585

memor ia l l indenstrasse 54/55 Potsdam

• memoriallindenstrasse54/55Potsdam Gedenkstätte Lindenstraße 54/55

postaladdressBenkertstraße3|D-14467Potsdam

contactinformationPhone:+493312896803Fax:+493312896808E-mail:museum-geschichte@rathaus.potdsdam.de

Websitewww.potsdam.de/cms/beitrag/10028894/34714/

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o t h e r i n s t i t u t i o n s , m u s e u m s a n D m e m o r i a l s i t e s

• DocumentationCentermecklenburg-Vorpommern forVictimsofDictatorshipinGermany

Dokumentationszentrum des Landes Mecklenburg-Vorpommern für die Opfer der Diktaturen in Deutschlandpostaladdress

Obotritenring106|D-19055Schwerincontactinformation

Phone:+4938574529911Fax:+493857778847E-mail:dokuzentrum-schwerin@lpb.mv-regierung.de

Websitewww.lpb-mv.de/cms2/LfpB_prod/LfpB/de/dz/index.jsp

—BORDERmEmORIAlSAnDmUSEUmS

MemorialsandmuseumslistedbelowwerebuiltorestablishedatcertainsitesorcrossingpointsneartheformerborderinstallationsinBerlinorbetweenEastandWestGermany.

• BerlinwallmemorialGedenkstätte Berliner Mauerpostaladdress

BernauerStraße111/119|D-13355Berlincontactinformation

Phone:+4930467986666Fax:+4930467986677E-mail:info@berliner-mauer-gedenkstaette.de

Websitewww.berliner-mauer-dokumentationszentrum.de/de/

englishversionwww.berliner-mauer-dokumentationszentrum.de/en/index.html

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84o t h e r g e r m a n i n s t i t u t i o n s : a B r i e F o v e r v i e w

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• wallmuseum/houseatCheckpointCharlieMauermuseum/Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charliepostaladdress

Postfach610226|D-10923Berlincontactinformation

Phone:+49302537250Fax:+49302512075E-mail:info@Mauermuseum.de

Websitewww.mauermuseum.de

englishversionwww.mauermuseum.de/english/frame-index-mauer.html

• marienfeldeRefugeeCentrememorialErinnerungsstätte Notaufnahmelager Marienfeldepostaladdress

MarienfelderAllee66/80|D-12277Berlincontactinformation

Phone:+493075008400Fax:+493075446634E-mail:info@notaufnahmelager-berlin.de

Websitewww.notaufnahmelager-berlin.de/de/

englishversionwww.notaufnahmelager-berlin.de/en/

• memorialofGermanDivisionatmarienbornGedenkstätte Marienbornpostaladdress

AnderBAB2|D-39365Marienborncontactinformation

Phone:+493940692090Fax:+493940692099E-mail:gedenkstaette@marienborn.de

Websitewww.sachsen-anhalt.de/LPSA/index.php?id=31581

memor ia l of german Div is ion at mar ienborn

85

Border land museum eichsfe ld

• BorderlandmuseumEichsfeldGrenzlandmuseum Eichsfeldpostaladdress

DuderstädterStraße5|D-37339Teistungencontactinformation

Phone:+493607197112Fax:+493607197998E-mail:info@grenzlandmuseum.de

Websitewww.grenzlandmuseum.de/museum/index.html

• German-Germanmuseummödlareuth (“littleBerlin”)

Deutsch-Deutsches Museum Mödlareuthpostaladdress

Mödlareuth13|D-95183Töpencontactinformation

Phone:+4992951334Fax::+4992951319E-mail:museum.moedlareuth@t-online.de

Websitewww.moedlareuth.de

• memorialPointAlphaGedenkstätte Point Alphapostaladdress

PlatzderdeutschenEinheit1|D-36419Geisacontactinformation

Phone:+496651919030Fax:+496651919031E-mail:service@pointalpha.com

Websitewww.pointalpha.com/gedenkstaette

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4.victimSaSSOciatiOnS

Since1990numerousassociationsandinterestgroupsofformervictimsofpoliticalpersecutionintheGDRwereformed.TheyjoinedexistinginstitutionsinWestGermanyliketheUnionofVictimsAssociationsofCommunistDictatorship(Union der Opferverbände kommunistischer Gewaltherrschaft),whosemembersrepresentalmosttheentirescopeofmechanismsofcommunistrepressionbetween1945and1989.Respectiveassociationswereeitherestablishedbyformerinmatesheldincertaincampsorprisons(likeBautzen,Buchenwald,Cottbus,Sachsenhausen,etcetera),orbyvictimsofparticularformsofrepression,likeforcedevacuationsfromGDRborderareasin1952and1961,forcedadoptions,orStasirepressioningeneral.TheUnionofVictimsAssociationsofCommunistDictatorshipservesasanumbrellaorganizationforcurrently32individualassociationsandvictimsgroupsinWesternandEasternpartsofunitedGermany(websiteinGermanonly:www.uokg.de/cms).TheexecutiveofficeoftheInternationalAssociationofFormerPoliticalPrisonersandVictimsofCommunism(Internationale Assoziation ehemaliger politischer Gefangener und Opfer des Kommunismus)

currentlyresidesintheFederalRepublicofGermany;theassociationitselfhassofarorganized17internationalcongressesinvariousEuropeancitiesandcomprisesofmemberorganizationsfrom17differentcountries(Albania,Bosnia-Herzegovina,Bulgaria,Croatia,CzechRepublic,Estonia,Germany,Hungary,Latvia,Lithuania,Moldavia,Poland,Romania,Russia,Slovakia,Slovenia,andUkraine).

— UOKGpostaladdress

Ruschestraße103,Haus14|D-10365Berlincontactinformation

Phone:+493055779351Fax:+493055779340E-mail:info@uokg.de

Websitewww.uokg.de

87

— VOS–VereinigungderOpferdesStalinismuspostaladdress

Hardenbergplatz2,Zoobogen|D-10623Berlincontactinformation

Phone:+493026552380Fax:+493026552382E-mail:VOS-Berlin@vos-ev.de

Websitewww.vos-ev.de

— InternationalAssociation

• AlBAnIEnShoqataAntikomunisteeish-tePëmdjekurvePolitikeDemokratë

postaladdressBulevardi“Dëshmorët”KarshiKryeministrisëALTiranë|Albania

contactinformationPhone:+3554223287

• BUlGARIEnUnionoftheRepressedPeoplepostaladdress

BGSofiacontactinformation

Phone:+35929879473

• DEUTSChlAnDUnionderOpferverbändeKommunistischerGewaltherrschafte.V.postaladdress

Ruschestraße103,Raum419D-10365Berlin-Lichtenberg

contactinformationPhone:+4903055779354

• ESTlAnDBoardofSouthEstonianAssoziationofPoliticalPrisonerspostaladdress

Tahe74-6|EE2400Tartucontactinformation

Phone:+3727

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• lETTlAnDlatvijasPolitiskiRepresetoApvienidapostaladdress

Skunuiela15|LV1050Rigacontactinformation

Phone:+3717222368Website

www.vip.latnet.lv/LPRA

• lITAUEnlithuanianPoliticalPrisonersandDeporteesAssociationpostaladdress

Laisvesal.39,Kaunas3000|Lithuaniacontactinformation

Phone:+3702(837)323214Website

www.lpkts.lt

• KROATIEnhrvatskoDrustvoPolitickih(hDPz)postaladdress

Masarykowa22/IV|HR10000Zagrebcontactinformation

Phone:+38514222879Website

www.hdpz.htnet.hr

internat ional associat ion

89

• mOlDAwIEnAVRC-VRARRmAssoziationderehem.politischenhäftlingeausderRepublikmoldaupostaladdress

Str.N.Iorgia8|MD2009Chisinaucontactinformation

Phone:+3732240077

• POlEnzwiazekwiezniowPolityccznychOkresuStalinowskiegopostaladdress

ZarzadGlownyul.11-goListopada17/19PL00-987Warszawa4

• RUmänIEnAsociataFostilorDetinutiPoliticidinRomaniapostaladdress

MantuleasaNr.10Sect.3|Ro7070387Bucuresti

• RUSSlAnD“memorial”postaladdress

Vitebskijpr.41-3-25|SanktPetersburg,Russlandcontactinformation

Phone:+78122995579Website

www.memo.ru

• SlOwAKEIKonfederaciaPolitickychVaznovSlovenskapostaladdress

Leskova3|SK-81104Bratislavacontactinformation

Phone:+42731800700

• SlOwEnIEnzdruzenjezrtevKomunisticneganasiljapostaladdress

Izanska206a|Slo1000Ljubljanacontactinformation

Phone:+386611274059

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• TSChEChIEnKonfederacePolitickýchVeznuCRpostaladdress

Skretova6|CZ12000Prahacontactinformation

Phone:+42224230536Website

www.kpv.kozakov.cz

• UKRAInEnationaleVereinigungderpolitischenGefangeneninderUkrainepostaladdress

ul.Mejygirska,7/16|252071Kiew71,Ukraina

• UnGARnmagyarPolitikaiFoglyokSzövetsege(POFOSz)postaladdress

Nadoru.36.IV|H1051Budapestcontactinformation

Phone:+36613116746,+36613117550Website

www.1956.mti.hu/Pages/Gallery.aspx?GalleryID=1www.gulag.hu

o t h e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s : a B r i e F o v e r v i e w

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Credits/Imprint

editor:Dr.AnnaKaminsky,BundesstiftungzurAufarbeitungderSED-Diktaturauthor:Dr.BerndSchäferphotoeditor:DietrichWolfFennerdesign:ultramarinrot,BerlinSecondEdition2011

picturecredits:Cover:Bundesregierung/EngelbertReineke;Bundesregierung;Bild4–7BundesstiftungAufarbeitung;Bundesregierung/KlausLehnartzS.4:BundesstiftungAufarbeitung/BestandKlausMehner,Bild72_0325_POL_Mauer_05S.3;S.5;S.6;S.17;S.22;S.23/2;S.27;S.28;S.29/2;S.31;S.32;S.36;S.37;S.45;S.47;S.48;S.49;S.501/2;S.52;S.57;S.581–3;S.71;S.72;S.75;S.76;S.77;S.78;S.79;S.80;S.81:BundesstiftungAufarbeitungS.83Flix„Dawarmalwas…“,S.84;S.85;S.88:BundesstiftungAufarbeitungS.7:BundesstiftungAufarbeitung,BestandKlausMehner, 89_1110_ausreise01S.8:Bundesregierung/Perlia-ArchivS.9:ArchivBundesstiftungAufarbeitung/BestandKlausMehner, Bild77_1205_POL-Mauer_05

S.13:1,2Bundesregierung/KlausLehnartz;3Bundesregierung/HeikoSpechtS.11:ArchivBundesstiftungAufarbeitung/BestandKlausMehner,Bild21_89_1104_POL-Demo_67S.14:ArchivBundesstiftungAufarbeitung/BestandKlausMehnerS.15:Bundesregierung/ArneSchambeckS.20:Bundesregierung/ArneSchambeckS.23/1:Bundesregierung/KlausLehnartzS.24:Bundesregierung/SieghardLiebeS.29/1:Bundesarchiv,183-1990-0412-019,OberstS.35:BundesarchivBild175-15451S.39;S.54;S.55:BundesstiftungAufarbeitung/ThomasTrutschel/photothek.netS.40:Bundesregierung/JuliaFassbenderS.43;S.51;S.53:BundesstiftungAufarbeitung/BirgitMeixnerS.44:Bundesregierung/EngelbertReinekeS.56:Bundesregierung/EngelbertReinekeS.59/1:Bundesregierung/SteffenKuglerS.62:Bundesregierung/TorstenKrause

headOffice:BundesstiftungzurAufarbeitungderSED-DiktaturKronenstraße5|D-10117Berlin|Germany

©BundesstiftungzurAufarbeitungderSED-Diktatur2011

Bundesstiftung zur Aufarbeitungder SED-DiktaturKronenstraße 5D-10117 BerlinGermany

www.bundesstiftung-aufarbeitung.de