Insightful look into the organs of repression of a failed state.

Really enjoyed the anecdotes and narrative about the remnants of the stasi, the ‘sword & shield’ of the socialist party party in the GDR.
Well narrated, well written.
Enjoyed it !

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Great impassioned view of fall of communism and the mimicry of the dreaded nomenclature and their progeny in united Germany

If u substitute with the relevant nomenclature this was the script that executed all over satélite Eastern Europe. Communism and its horrors were never punished, so these days we have people walking around with the signage of the communist states and exalting the “achievements”, meanwhile nobody is talking about half a century of terror, concentration camps etc … the real face of communism.
Let’s not forget how the progeny of nomenclature, turned into powerful businessmen overnight, meanwhile the bating had to pay billions of foreign borrowing during communism

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Great historical insights but bias is clearly on show

Wonderfully well researched and thoughtful book. However, the terrible crimes of the GDR have clearly left the author with a strong bias against left wing groups/ ideas of all kinds regardless of they’re history or beliefs. This is quite blatant and can be jarring to hear all left wing groups including those in the social democratic tradition in Europe tarred with the one brush.

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Eye opening and shocking

I thought I knew how the Stasi operated.

I did, but I had no idea they still operate!

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A terrible warning for the future

This is a must-read for anyone who sees the rightful position of Germany in the last two or more decades as one of the best democracies in Europe. It shows how the Stasi, the secret police of the most repressive communist country of the Cold War East Germany, murdered and ruined the lives of hundreds of thousands of its own citizens with complete impunity. How, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, they worked hard to cover their tracks, How they took over important positions in modern Germany, And how they are still working hard to rewrite history to further cover their tracks and to promote their murderous regime. It is quite shocking to read how influential they still remain, perhaps more than ever as Angela Merkel (an impressively open-minded socialist conservative), leaves her throne. This has to be one of the most impressive exposes of corruption and evil in a basically good country in modern times.
I really didn't like the reading style but still very well worth the time spent listening.

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A Must Read

Absolutely brilliant. I have learned so much from reading this book. I visited Hohenschönhausen two years ago and it is a visit I will never forget.

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Propagandist hogwash

Horribly biased, politically motivated. If it’s a factual story you’re after, you won’t find it here. The author has a political axe to grind and seems content to twist things to make them fit the narrative he’d like us all to swallow.

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