The secret police and the revolution : the fall of the German Democratic Republic / Edward N. Peterson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Peterson, Edward N. (Edward Norman), 1925-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Germany (East). Ministerium für Staatssicherheit.

Germany (East).

Intelligence service--Germany (East).

Intelligence service.

Germany (East)--Politics and government.

Politics and government.

Internal security--Germany (East).

Internal security.

Opposition (Political science)--Germany (East).

Opposition (Political science).

Physical Description:

xiii, 286 pages ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

Westport, Conn. : Praeger, 2002.

Contents:

1. The Dark Clouds Forming: 1953-1979 1

The Problem-Filled Structure 1

The Stasi as Shielding Umbrella 19

2. Distant Rumblings: 1980-1986 35

Schwerin 35

Berlin 45

3. The Winds Rising: 1987 61

Schwerin 61

Berlin 71

4. The Lightning Striking: 1988 85

Schwerin 85

Berlin 105

5. The Storm Breaking: Spring 1989 127

Schwerin 127

Berlin 147

6. The Ground Shaking: Fall 1989 175

Schwerin 175

Berlin 194

7. The Shambles Remaining: Winter 1989-1990 229

The MfS on the Brink 230

The MfS by Another Name 232

The More Things Change in the Secret Police... 235

The Whimpering End 241

The Fading Away of Old Agents 243

The Reports of Death Are Premature 249

The Revolution Abandons Its Revolutionaries 251

8. What We Learn from the Secret Police 257

What They Tell of Themselves 257

Of the Enormity of the Public's Disaffection 258

Of Discontents Like Those in the West 259

The Accuracy of the Secret Police as Reporters and Analysts 260

The Weaknesses of the Secret Police as Enforcers 262

How Realities Defeated the Ideals 265

The Secret Police as Dissidents 266

The Secret Police as Rebels 267.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [271]-277) and index.

ISBN:

027597328X

OCLC:

45708149