Some of those tourists who are planning to visit Berlin, Germany might already know about the museum that will be discussed in the remaining part of this paper. The Stasi Museum Berlin is a special of its kind that gives insight into the Ministry for State Security of the GDR. AL though this is my first time to hear about the Stasi Museum, this blog post will attempt to explain what the museum is all about and why anyone should consider visiting the place.
Understanding the Stasi
The Stasi, which existed from 1950 to 1990 was one of the most efficient and intruding secret police in the entire globe. They applied great methods to watch the daily conduct of people; power and repression throughout the time of the East German.
Stasi Museum will give you a deeper understanding of how this organization operates in detail. The museum is situated in the building, which was the headquarters of Stasi, and therefore gives an impression of the actual work and functions of the organization.
Glimpse of the Stasi Museum
Once you get to the Stasi Museum you will transport back in time to the GDR period. Most of the major facets of the Stasi are depicted through different methods, tools and principles throughout the museum. Here are some highlights you can expect during your visit:
1. Exhibitions
To a certain extent the museum offers different sections and models that graphically illustrate the strategies used by the Stasi. They use everything from audio and video surveillance to informant networks; that’s exactly what you are going to learn about their spying techniques. In fact some of the settings include leave behinds of unmasking and concealed hide out admits of the Stasi officers.
2. Office Spaces
During the museum tour you can plunge into the offices of actual Stasi agents. The restore rooms offer rather horrifying look at the daily existence of the officers with furniture and equipment of the period.
3. Interrogation Rooms
Among all exhibits in the Stasi Museum I believe the original interrogation rooms are among the most striking and mind-boggling. This was the rooms where suspects were taken and fed with different psychological and physical coercion in order to make them confess and provide necessary information. A key in the museum is how the Stasi violated the human rights of people in East Germany.
Some useful advice on the Stasi Museum tour.
To make the most of your visit to the Stasi Museum, consider the following tips:
- Plan your visit in advance: As for the museum visit, it might get rather crowded, better to buy tickets online in advance and do not arrive too late to the spot.
- Take a guided tour: Self guided tours are available in different languages, but guided tours are also provided which make it easier to learn the history behind some of the artifacts.
- Allocate enough time: As with all artefact heavy environments it is recommended that you spend at least two to three hours exploring the museum. There are numerous things to watch and to listen to, which is why it is impossible to just give it a cursory glance.
- Engage with multimedia: The Stasi Museum also has multimedia and interactive features built into the visiting experience. These features should be used to haser deeper engagement with the topic.
- Reflect and discuss: It must be admitted that visiting the Stasi Museum can cause an emotional response and lead to such questions as concerns surveillance and privacy as well as state control. As you complete reading through a case, spend some time to ponder on what you have learnt, and perhaps share your ideas with others.
Conclusion
Coming to the Stasi Museum Berlin is a good opportunity for a historical tour which is going to show the worst sides of the life in East Germany. Being an interactive exhibition, you will get caught in sections of the museum which will help you understand the oppressive nature of the Stasi and its effects on society. When traveling, it is essential to prepare, learn more about history and reconstruct it embracing the Stasi Museum.
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