The main headquarters of the MfS—a vast sprawling complex
under tight security—was located in Berlin-Lichtenberg. Although
an executive collegium consisted of Mielke and 13 leading generals,
it was increasingly dominated by the first minister and met on an
irregular basis. Mielke’s commanding position could also be seen
in the number of staff units under his direct control. Immediately
below Mielke were four deputy ministers who also belonged to the
collegium. Even though these generals had a record of loyalty dating
from the GDR’s earliest years, the units under their direct command
were decidedly fewer than those of the first minister. Three of them
oversaw departments involving domestic surveillance, while the
fourth had responsibility for the foreign intelligence operations of the
Hauptverwaltung Aufklärung.
The MfS also maintained a formidable presence outside the
capital; nearly half of the full-time employees were assigned to the
district and county administrations. Among their main responsibili-
ties were securing the GDR borders and preventing Republikflucht
(flight from the republic), monitoring manifestations of dissent,
providing security for government installations, and recruiting Inof-
fizielle Mitarbeiter (unofficial collaborators). Although MfS workers
enjoyed material benefits not available to the average GDR citizen,
the daily pressure was considerable, and alcoholism a not infrequent
occurrence. Holding mostly secretarial positions, women became
noticeably less visible toward the top of the institutional hierarchy
and never headed a main department. In addition, the staff was in-
creasingly drawn not from the working class but from families whose
parents worked in the police, army, and security forces or in other
branches of the state and party apparatus. Because of increased expo-
sure to the West through the policy of détente, the MfS experienced
its largest growth between 1968 and 1982, and it replaced its earlier
emphasis on kidnappings and physical torture with greater reliance
on Zersetzungsmassnahmen (decomposition measures), which ex-
erted pressure through psychology and disinformation.
As popular protest mounted against the Stasi in fall 1989, Mielke
resigned on 3 November, and a new security organization, the Amt
für Nationale Sicherheit, took its place. This reform attempt quickly
failed, and many former MfS staff members turned against their lead-
ers. Moreover, citizens’ committees occupied Stasi offices through-304 • MINISTERIUM FÜR STAATSSICHERHEIT