How Successful was the Stasi in the West after all?
Remembrance and Justice, Vol. 23 No. 1 (2014), pages: 39-52
Publication date: 2014-06-30
Abstract
The author has attempted to assess the effectiveness of activity of
Hauptverwaltung Aufklärung (HV A), i.e the intelligence unit of the GDR Ministry for
State Security (MfS/ Stasi). The circumstances of the unification of Germany and
the liquidation of the GDR would indicate that the primary task of HV A, that is
defence of state interests, was not accomplished. Detailed analysis presented by
the author shows that the final assessment of the effectiveness of HV A is more
complicated.
The author suggested an evaluation model which in his opinion is useful to
review the work of intelligence services, assuming that the degree of
accomplishment of the intelligence objectives was the main indicator of the effectiveness and
success of the HV A activities. Effectiveness of work of the intelligence should
also have translated into long-term existence and activity of the service. The third
indicator was defined by the author as the customer and employee satisfaction. In
this case, it concerned, among other things, the loyalty and sense of identification
of the HV A employees and agents.
The author’s conclusions also concern the possibility of comparing the activity
of HV A against the work of other intelligence services.