MfS Files

MfS Files refer to data files associated with the Ministry for State Security (MfS), or Stasi, the East German secret police. These files contain detailed information collected on individuals, including personal records, surveillance reports, and communication intercepts. Originating during the Cold War era, they were used for monitoring citizens, suppressing dissent, and controlling political activity. Today, MfS Files are valuable historical resources providing insight into East Germany’s surveillance practices and society, and they are accessible to individuals for personal research or for understanding their own histories.