Stasi ghosts still haunt former East Germans

Erich Mielke, head of the Stasi secret police, appearing in front of the Parliament

From Chris Burns
CNN Berlin bureau chief

BERLIN, Germany (CNN) -- It was one of the defining moments in East Germany's collapse: Erich Mielke, head of the Stasi secret police, begging understanding from the Parliament.

"But I love all people," he told the room. His remarks were greeted with laughter. The man most feared by East Germans was suddenly ridiculed, his headquarters ransacked by East Germans suddenly tasting freedom -- and revenge.

Mielke died this year in an elderly home at 92, taking to his grave secrets that passed over his desk at Stasi headquarters.

Among the secrets trickling out of Stasi archives, as researchers and citizens sort through the millions of pages kept by East Germany's Big Brother: plans to run West Berlin if the Soviet bloc invaded it.

East German documents show how the plan called for an invasion by up to 35,000 troops and more than 300 tanks. East German forces trained for it in exercises to simulate urban warfare.

Stasi archives detailed the post-invasion plan, starting with a mass roundup of "so-called enemy persons, administration, politicians and government officials," said historian Otto Wenzel.

The Stasi arrested Josef Budek in 1983 for being a peace activist

Today Stasi relics, such as watering cans, fuel cans and shoeboxes refitted as cameras, are housed in a museum in the agency's former headquarters, where Joerg Driesemann is director.

"They put infrared lamps in (a) Trabant car door and used special cameras to photograph at night and not be noticed," said Driesemann.

Some tactics have left a mark on Stasi victims to this day. The Stasi arrested Josef Budek in 1983 for being a peace activist. Stasi documents show Budek's boss and his own brother reported on his activities. Budek was jailed for nine month, and in some ways he never recovered.

"The mistrust became much greater among many people. I have two, three friends. That's already enough. I don't believe anyone anymore," Budek says.

As many as 200,000 East Germans worked as informants for the Stasi at any given time, people from all walks of life. The Stasi may no longer be feared, but it still haunts the people it terrorised.