Archive of Unity: The exciting history of the GDR archives!

Archive of Unity: The exciting history of the GDR archives!

In 1990, Germany faced a monumental challenge: integrating the archives of the former GDR into the existing system of the Federal Republic. This mammoth task involved the unification of two different archive systems, which was anything but easy for the archives and the institutions of the new all-German Federal Archives. How Federal Archives reported, the first discussions took place between the Federal Archives and the GDR State Archives Administration in February 1990 in order to develop the principles of a pan-German archives administration.

“Archiving” was not an easy undertaking. On May 7, 1990, a special conference of archive officers took place in Potsdam, the topics of which included the holdings of the Prussian central administration and the training of archivists. There was also the challenge of transferring documents from the GDR ministries to the Central State Archives and later to the Federal Archives. A good hand was required to secure all files in this historic exceptional situation.

A look at the Federal Archives

The Federal Archives is not just a place where files are stored. It represents a central facility for safeguarding Germany's cultural and historical heritage. Not only documents, but also photographs and films from various eras are stored here, from the Empire to the present. The main office is in Koblenz, while there are also several locations in Berlin. The unique holdings include important files from military history, personal estates of important personalities and, last but not least, documents on the history of the GDR, including the Stasi documents.

To make access easier, the Federal Archives has provided various online finding aids and digitized documents. There are numerous materials available online, which is particularly helpful for research. Guided tours, workshops and lectures are also offered to bring history to life.

The legacy of the Stasi

A particular focus is on the Stasi documents, which, as is well known, were severely compromised behind the scenes of state security in 1990. At the headquarters of the GDR state security, numerous files were pre-destroyed, which made access to information more difficult. But not everything was lost. The Stasi archive still manages around 111 kilometers of files, millions of index cards, photos and films. Here there is the opportunity for citizens, but also journalists and scientists, to view the files and carry out research. Like that Federal Agency for Civic Education explains, these files are not only documents of repression, but also important evidence of everyday history in the GDR.

Personalities such as Joachim Gauck and Marianne Birthler have made a decisive contribution to coming to terms with the Stasi's past. Alexandra Titze, who is responsible for Stasi records as Vice President, has an exciting career that began in the Birthler agency in 2003. Together with others, she prepared the history of the Stasi and enabled people to better understand the shadows of the past.

Seen in this way, archiving is not just a technical process, but a significant step in the examination of German history, which is of great importance for both the institutions and the citizens. How the archives will develop, whether they will remain anchored in people's minds as the “Koblenz Federal Archives” or whether they will be perceived as a pan-German institution, remains exciting to observe.