Museum in der Runde Ecke (Memorial Museum in the "Round Corner"), Leipzig

The Memorial Museum in the "Round Corner" (Museum in der Runde Ecke) in Leipzig, is a poignant reminder of East Germany's oppressive past under the Stasi, the notorious secret police of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR). Housed in the original curved office space once occupied by the Stasi, this museum offers visitors a chilling look into the machinery of state surveillance and repression that dominated East German life.

Since 1990, the museum has hosted the exhibition “STASI - Power and Banality,” which remains in the very rooms where the Stasi orchestrated their campaigns of fear and control. The exhibits delve into the history, structure, and operations of the Ministry for State Security (MfS), illustrating how the Stasi infiltrated daily life, employing tactics like phone bugging, recruitment of spies from a young age, and manipulation of citizens to maintain an effective surveillance state. The collection includes archival files, reports, surveillance equipment, confiscated personal items, and Stasi uniforms, all providing a stark visual and contextual understanding of the regime's methods.

Visitors are guided through the disturbing legacy of how the Socialist Unity Party (SED) established a surveillance state that stripped GDR citizens of their democratic rights. The museum not only documents these abuses but also underscores the significance of the Peaceful Revolution, which played a crucial role in dismantling the repressive regime. By preserving this dark chapter of history in its authentic setting, the Memorial Museum in the "Round Corner" ensures that the lessons of this era remain relevant, serving as a testament to the enduring impact of resistance and the importance of safeguarding democratic freedoms.