Excursions, Lectures & Discussions

The GDR Through the Eyes of the Stasi – The Year 1954

Saturday, 08/08/2026 / 02:30 PM - 04:30 PM / Stasi-Unterlagen-Archiv Außenstelle Schwerin

Lecture and Discussion at the Federal Archives—Stasi Records Archive in Schwerin on Saturday, August 8, 2026

One year after the popular uprising of June 17, 1953, tensions in the GDR remained high. Food shortages and supply bottlenecks characterized everyday life. The SED sought to win the loyalty of the population through large-scale events and cautious political and economic liberalization. At the same time, in its search for spies and agents, the Stasi swept the GDR with a wave of arrests and show trials. These were intended to intimidate Western intelligence agencies and opponents within the country.

The Stasi compiled reports on the situation in the country almost daily, reflecting the various campaigns and their impact on the population. In addition to documenting the domestic mood, the daily reports also paint a multifaceted picture of the intelligence war in the GDR. In his lecture on Saturday, August 8, at the Stasi Records Archive in Schwerin, Martin Stief (Federal Archives—Stasi Records Archive), editor of the anthology “The GDR Through the Eyes of the Stasi 1954. The Secret Reports to the SED Leadership,” will present these reports.
In addition to the lecture, there will be a guided tour of the archive. Attendees will also have the opportunity to submit a request to view Stasi records. A valid form of identification must be presented for this purpose.

Date:
Saturday, August 8, 2026, 2:30 p.m.
Saturday at the Archive – featuring a lecture and discussion, an archive tour, application submission, and consultation

Speaker:
Dr. Martin Stief (Federal Archives – Stasi Records Archive)

Location:
Federal Archives – Stasi Records Archive, Schwerin
Görslow, Resthof
19067 Leezen

Admission is free.

All statements without guarantee.