Stasi: The Untold Story of the East German Secret Police

In this gripping narrative, John Koehler details the widespread activities of East Germany's Ministry for State Security, or Stasi. The Stasi, which infiltrated every walk of East German life, suppressed political opposition, and caused the imprisonment of hundreds of thousands of citizens, proved to be one of the most powerful secret police and espionage services in the world. Koehler methodically reviews the Stasi's activities within East Germany and overseas, including its programs for internal repression, international espionage, terrorism and terrorist training, art theft, and special operations in Latin America and Africa. Koehler was both Berlin bureau chief of the Associated Press during the height of the Cold War and a U.S. Army Intelligence officer. His insider's account is based on primary sources, such as U.S. intelligence files, Stasi documents made available only to the author, and extensive interviews with victims of political oppression, former Stasi officers, and West German government officials. Drawing from these sources, Koehler recounts tales that rival the most outlandish Hollywood spy thriller and, at the same time, offers the definitive contribution to our understanding of this still largely unwritten aspect of the history of the Cold War and modern Germany.

Author: John O. Koehler
Publisher: Basic Books
Published: 08/17/2000
Pages: 478
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.46lbs
Size: 9.05h x 6.03w x 1.09d
ISBN13: 9780813337449
ISBN10: 0813337445
BISAC Categories:
- Political Science | History & Theory | General
- Political Science | Political Ideologies | Communism, Post-Communism & Socialism
- Political Science | Comparative Politics

About the Author
John O. Koehler served as foreign correspondent for the Associated Press for 28 years, including stints as chief for both the Berlin and Bonn Bureaus. He also served as Assistant to the President and Director of Communications under Ronald Reagan.