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

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

whereby “archiving” was not an easy undertaking. On May 7, 1990, a special conference of the archive speakers took place in Potsdam, the topics of which included the stocks from the Prussian central administration and the training of archivists. There was also the challenge of transferring written goods from the GDR ministries to the Central State Archives and later to the Federal Archives. A good hand was asked to ensure all the files in this historical 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 to secure Germany's cultural and historical heritage. Not only documents, but also photographs and films from different epochs are kept here, from the empire to the present. The main agency is located in Koblenz, while there are also several locations in Berlin. The unique stocks include important files from military history, personal discounts of important personalities and, last but not least, the documents on the history of the GDR, including the Stasi documents.

To make access easier, the Federal Archives have provided various Online finders and digitized documents. Numerous materials are available online, which is particularly helpful for research. In addition, tours, workshops and lectures are offered to make history tangible.

The legacy of the Stasi

A special focus is on the Stasi documents, which, as is well known in 1990, were badly affected behind the scenes of state safety. Numerous files were pre-destroyed at the headquarters of GDR state security, which made access to information difficult. But not everything was lost. The Stasi archive still manages about 111 kilometers of files, millions of index cards, photos and films. Here there is the possibility for citizens, but also for journalists and scientists, to view the files and to provide refurbishment. Just as the Federal Center for Political Education , these files are not only documents of the 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 the processing of the Stasi past. Alexandra Titze, who is responsible for the Stasi documents as Vice President, has an exciting career behind him, which began in the Birthler authority 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 dealing with German history, which is of great importance for both institutions and citizens. How the archives will develop, whether they remain anchored in the minds of people as a “Koblenz Federal Archives” or are perceived as a all -German institution remains exciting.