High Number of Applications for Access to Stasi Files Indicates Continued Interest
In 2024, nearly 29,000 individuals applied to access records from the Stasi, the former East German secret police, highlighting sustained public interest 35 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Federal Archives reported that over 7.5 million applications have been made since 1990, reflecting the ongoing societal significance of understanding the injustices committed by the Stasi. Michael Hollmann, President of the Federal Archives, emphasized the importance of keeping these records accessible to remember the past.