Stasi Dokumentations- und Gedenkstätte Rostock, Memorial and documentation center in Rostock, Germany
The Stasi Documentation and Memorial Site in Rostock is a former secret police prison with three floors and approximately 50 cells equipped with original furnishings and surveillance equipment from the East German period. The exhibition displays photographs, apparatus, and personal belongings that document daily life within this facility.
The prison opened in 1960 as an investigation detention center for the Ministry of State Security and operated until German reunification in 1989. During these decades, thousands of people were held, interrogated, and confined under harsh conditions.
The site tells the story of how the secret police controlled daily life through surveillance and informants, making visible the methods of oppression that affected ordinary people. Visitors can read personal accounts and view documents that bring these experiences to life.
The site is open from March through October on weekdays and Saturdays, with free admission for all visitors. It is advisable to allow adequate time for the visit, as the emotional content can be demanding.
The cells are unusually small with glass blocks instead of windows, emphasizing the lack of natural light and privacy. These architectural features reveal how the design deliberately created psychological pressure on those confined within.
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