Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (MfS)

The Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (MfS), known as the Stasi, was East Germany's secret police and intelligence agency from 1950 to 1990. It operated to monitor, control, and suppress dissent within the country, using extensive surveillance, informants, and psychological tactics. The MfS aimed to maintain the ruling socialist regime by rooting out opposition and maintaining social order. Its activities included espionage, censorship, and secret policing, creating a climate of mistrust and fear among citizens. After German reunification, the MfS was disbanded, and its records became publicly accessible for transparency and historical insight.