Museum in der "Runden Ecke" - Image 1

Leipzig,Germany

Museum in der "Runden Ecke"

MuseumOpenCold WarGerman Democratic Republic

The Museum in der 'Runden Ecke' is located in the former district headquarters of the Ministry for State Security (Stasi) in Leipzig. The building served as the command center for the secret police in the Leipzig district from 1950 until the peaceful revolution of 1989, when it was occupied by demonstrators to prevent the destruction of sensitive files.

Today, the museum documents the history, structure, and operational methods of the Stasi. The permanent exhibition, titled 'Stasi - Power and Banality,' utilizes original documents, surveillance equipment, and artifacts to illustrate how the secret police monitored the East German population and suppressed political dissent.

Key Facts

Materials
Stone, Brick, Concrete
Civilization
East German
Accessibility
Limited; historic building with restricted elevator access
Date(s)
1913
Condition
Preserved as a memorial museum
Original Function
District headquarters for the Ministry for State Security
Key Figures
Erich Mielke

Construction and Early Use

1913

The building was originally constructed as the headquarters for the Leipzig police force, serving as a municipal administrative building for several decades.

Stasi Headquarters

1950-1989

Following the division of Germany, the building became the district headquarters for the Ministry for State Security. It functioned as the nerve center for surveillance and repression in the Leipzig region.

The Peaceful Revolution

1989

On December 4, 1989, citizens of Leipzig occupied the building to prevent the Stasi from destroying incriminating files, marking a pivotal moment in the collapse of the GDR regime.

Establishment of the Museum

1990-Present

The Citizens' Committee of Leipzig took over the building shortly after the revolution. The museum was established to ensure the history of the Stasi's activities remained accessible to the public and to preserve the site as a place of remembrance.

Cultural Significance

The museum serves as a critical site for understanding the mechanisms of totalitarian control and the history of the Peaceful Revolution. It plays a vital role in German civic education, emphasizing the importance of transparency and the protection of civil rights against state overreach.

Interpretive Notes

Scholarly debates and areas of uncertainty

Discussions often center on the balance between preserving the site as an authentic 'perpetrator location' versus the challenges of maintaining a historic building that was not originally designed for public exhibition.

Visiting Information

Entry Rules

Open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. Admission is free, though donations are encouraged to support the Citizens' Committee.

Best Times to Visit

Weekdays are generally quieter. The museum is particularly significant on December 4th, the anniversary of the building's occupation.

Photography

Personal photography is permitted for non-commercial use. Flash photography is prohibited in certain exhibition rooms to protect sensitive documents.

Preservation Notes

The building is a protected historic monument. Visitors are asked to respect the integrity of the original office spaces and artifacts.

Nearby POIs

9 shown

Sources & Further Reading

  1. [1]
    The Stasi: Myth and Reality — John O. Koehler. Westview Press (1999)
  2. [2]
    Stasi-Unterlagen-Archiv: Leipzig — Federal Commissioner for the Stasi Records. BStU (2020)View