Berlin's newly re-opened Stasi Museum

Anyone going on a trip to Berlin this summer? There’s a museum that just re-opened that might be worth checking out. It’s the former headquarters of the East German secret police (known as the Stasi). It’s called the Stasi Museum.

Inside you see the rooms and offices of the Communist-era East German secret police. Everything looks just as it would have looked, with old phones and typewriters and surveillance equipment and such. It's all sort of creepy, but definitely interesting and atmospheric. The museum includes the office of Erich Mielke, who was the East German Minister of State Security and head of the secret police.

This article about the museum’s re-opening is kind of interesting too. It talks about how a lot of the old East German Communist-era merchandise has become sort of kitschy and trendy around Berlin. Tourists and others buy flags and hats and other memorabilia, which is somewhat unsettling to those who lived through those difficult times.

In any event, the new Stasi Museum is not trivializing anything. It’s the real deal. If you’re into this sort of thing, it could be a good bonus after the more famous Checkpoint Charlie Museum (which is included on the EF College Break trips that go to Berlin).

Photo: melomania-music notes via Flickr (CC)

Comments

[european river cruises]

I'll pay a visit on this museum next month.