New expo in Brussels: Behind the Berlin Wall – State Security in the GDR Dictatorship

The exhibition “Behind the Berlin Wall – State Security in the GDR Dictatorship” marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. It can be seen at the Parlamentarium (European Parliament’s Visitor Centre) in Brussels from 17.11.2019 until 19 April 2020.

The Parlamentarium is hosting this temporary exhibition from the StasiMuseum, in cooperation with the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Europe, Berlin’s Liaison Office to the EU. The expo kicked off on Thursday, 17th November during the Brussels Museums Nocturnes event.

Behind the Berlin Wall – State Security in the GDR Dictatorship focuses on the activities of the Ministry for State Security, better known as the Stasi, as the main instrument of power in East Germany. The exhibition is being shown to mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, on 9 November 1989.

The temporary exhibition will run from 7 November 2019 until 19 April 2020 and can be seen as part of any visit to the Parlamentarium in Brussels. Visiting Parlamentarium is free of charge.

State Security in the GDR Dictatorship
The expo summarises essential parts of the permanent exhibition of the StasiMuseum in Berlin. It draws a line from the beginnings of communist dictatorship in the Soviet-occupied part of post-war Germany to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the peaceful revolution in East Germany. The focus is on the East German Communist Party’s main instrument of power: the Ministry for State Security, which remained the centre of power in East Germany until 1989.

This was based on a system of force, threats, rewards and privilege. Individuals were taught to conform, comply and, whenever possible, participate. The East German Communist Party, with its unrestrained access to almost all areas of life, was able to comprehensively control the population and to reward and reprimand as needed.

You can get more information on this exhibition by visiting the Visiting European Parliament website. You can also check our story about Parlamentarium, if you want to learn more about this unique museum in Brussels.