"the most
perfected
surveillance
state of all
time."
STASILAND
Revision Session
Interestingly,
Funder revisits
Germany again
in her novel All
That I Am.
What is it about Stasiland?
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Funder’s exploration of the human story behind this
disturbing part of German history
A longing to understand how they could have turned on
each other in the way that they did (remember
Orwellian and 1984)
She has great feeling for the German people (the
German word is Mitgefühl), shown also by her interest in
their Stickelbrick language and by the rigid mentality.
She also has great sympathy for them. Two tragic
events in the space of a century.
Continued…
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She shows tremendous sympathy for the victims of the Stasi,
and seeks to understand the perpetrators.
Interestingly, she finds little remorse from those perpetrators.
Many defend the ideas still, whilst others see it as a joke
(Herr Bock).
Her voice is very evident in the text – this isn’t a
dispassionate exploration, it’s a personal story from the first
chapter.
Her outsider’s perspective means that she has neither the
pain nor the guilt… nor any reason for wanting to skim over
the truth.
Read reviews to see how others view her text.
Bits of reviews…
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gradually a picture of the world behind the Wall
develops. As Julia, Funder's landlord, says (p144): “For
anyone to understand a regime like the GDR, the stories
of ordinary people must be told.”
She allows ex-Stasi operatives an equal chance to
reflect on their achievements, and finds—to her dismay
and ours—that they have learned nothing.’
‘Stasiland is a brilliant account of the passionate search
for a brutal history in the process of being lost,
forgotten and destroyed’
Remember to go through the book club notes!
The stories
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She chooses to interview people to try to find out
what really went on and how people are dealing
with it even today. Everyday people woth unknown
stories. She finds many examples of great bravery
and heartbreaking tragedy here. What can we
deduce from this?
People tell stories facts and figures can’t.
She also describes Germany itself, and how it is
changing (or not changing) in order to deal with the
past.
Berlin, Winter 1996
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The start of Anna’s journey (link to Berlin, Spring
2000 which is one of the final chapters)
The toilet attendant who can now travel but wont
(but would like to see the Great Wall of China)
Her fascination for Germany
Basic info on the Stasi
Miriam
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Considered the ‘tragic hero’ of the text, she
appears in more chapters than any other character
(except perhaps Julia)
Miriam shows how a 16-year-old girl could come to
be considered an enemy of the state.
This chapter also tells how Anna came to undertake
this project – and the attitude of her boss reflects
the attitude of everyday Germans.
Bornholmer Bridge
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This chapter outlines Miriam’s failed attempt to
escape (although almost successful). Remember that
she is still 16 at this point. Bornholmer Bridge is the
spot she chooses for her attempt.
This is followed by her torture (lack of human rights)
and the crafting of a ridiculous story that they “buy”
initially (showing the paranoia of the regime)
Anna cannot believe they buy the story she sells
them in order to get some peace.
Charlie
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This chapter is named after Miriam’s husband who
‘saves’ her after she is changed by prison, and shares
many of her political views.
Charlie dies in custody in suspicious circumstances. She
explains the strange behaviour of the funeral parlour.
Miriam has cut herself out of photographs with him
Miriam also details how she and he could not work and
could barely survive a kind of blacklisting. They apply
to leave several times. She is deported suddenly after
his death.
The Linoleum Palace
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This refers to the apartment Anna rents from Julia. It is
sparsely furnished, and Julia comes in irregularly to
take more stuff. She compares it to Germany, which
goes on despite times of the complete absence of joy.
She describes how no-one knows what to do with the
Palast der Republik (GDR Parliament) and Hitler’s
bunker.
She thinks of Miriam and puts an ad in the paper to
speak to Stasi men. We find later she is overrun with
responses – why do you think this is?
Stasi HQ
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Anna visits the Stasi museum (the old Stasi HQ) on
Normanenstrasse
She describes their methods and how the Stasi
evolved as a reaction to Nazism
Details the plans to detain all people under
suspicion into ghetto-like areas (ironic after Nazism)
Also details how the wall came down
The Smell of Old Men
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Anna details the downfall of the Stasi after the wall
comes down
She watches a video where a psychologist says that
the need to inform is a part of the German psyche,
akin to their need for “order and thoroughness and
stuff like that”.
A cleaner talks to her about the fact that there were
no womens toilets in the Stasi building – it was run
by old men alone.
Telephone Calls
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Miriam calls Anna to thank her, but remains at a
distance.
She is also called by Herr Winz, who is a part of
the Insiderkommittee, a group of ex-Stasi men.
He joyfully tells her how many spies and informers
they had.
He also says capitalism is on its way out and gives
her a copy of the Communist Manifesto.
Anna finds him comical and out of date/touch
Julia has no story…
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But she does! She says her family went through
“Internal emigration” - they kept their thoughts
private.
She talks about her (and her father’s) initial belief
in the GDR, and mentions some positives such as a
lack of prostitution.
She disappears (in form) before Anna can get much
out of her.
The Italian Boyfriend
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This is Julia’s real story. She had an Italian
boyfriend, and was thus under surveillance. She
could not continue to study where she wanted and
couldn’t find a job.
GDR fictions (in the ‘unemployment office’). “You
are not unemployed! You are seeking work!... There
is no unemployment in the GDR!”
Major N
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He attempts to make Julia inform on her boyfriend,
but she has already broken up with him.
He has a lot of detail about her personal life which
alarms her, including her mail.
He threatens her, but she tells her family and
miraculously fobs him off by threatening to write to
Mielke. This shows us that some Stasi officers went
beyond duty and spied on people without
instruction.
The Lipsi
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Named after a dance manufactured by the GDR
with no bodily contact. She sees the video (along
with the Black Channel) at Stasi HQ.
Goes towards Orwellian thought control.
Von Schni…
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Anna interviews Karl-Eduard von Schnitzler, who
hosted the Black Channel which produced
propaganda demonising the West.
He still emphatically holds his views, and she finds
him quite ridiculous and closed minded.
Interestingly, the wife’s maiden name is on the door
– showing how reviled he is.
The Worse You Feel
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Anna asks Miriam over for lunch. She reveals the
story of her rape, showing the mistakes made by
both sides of Germany.
This leads Anna to go drinking with Klaus
Herr Christian
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A charming man, who treats his Stasi past like a
game. Anna says he treats her like a ‘coconspirator’.
The difference is he was “never ideological”.
He is also punished by the regime for keeping
secrets (an extra-marital affair)
Socialist Man
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We meet Hagen Koch, once a “true believer” due
to his upbringing. (Mielke’s cartographer)
He talk about the “them and us” mentality – better
to be one of “us”, than one of “them”
He talks about his father who is blackmailed into
joining the party (under threat of further
imprisonment) and as a teacher must bring up his
son according to GDR ideals. Hagen becomes a
poster boy for the GDR.
Drawing the Line
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Koch talks about the need for the wall (they were
robbing us blind) and how he began to question the
regime after his marriage. They disapproved of this
and attempt to split them up.
Hagen is brought up on trumped up charges and his
wife is threatened with the loss of their child if she
does not support the party
Eventually he discovers the truth and they remarry –
he faces disciplinary proceedings.
The Plate
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Hagen resigns from the army when he is not
allowed to attend his father’s funeral as a western
relative is attending.
In defiance, he takes a plate congratulating his unit
on their work.
Their determinedness to get it back, even years
later, shows the smallmindedness of the party.
Klaus
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Anna’s drinking buddy Klaus talks about his
experiences as a rebellious rock star with the Stasi
Renft’s lyrics challenge the establishment and
criticise the East German government
They are banned and told “they no longer exist”.
Many are later arrested and imprisoned. Pannach
dies of a rare form of cancer, that appears to be
caused by radioactive tracking experiments.
Herr Bock of Golm
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This Stasi man was in Spezialdiziplin (a handler who
recruited informants).
He talks (impressed with his own cleverness) at the
process of choosing someone to be an informer (use of
blackmail)
He also demonstrates how well Stasi men are doing in
the new system – successful rather than being held
accountable.
He also behaves strangely upon her leaving, enjoying
her discomfort at being stuck in the dark with him.
Frau Paul (Rührdanz)
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The initial story shows how people and families
were separated by the wall – her sick baby
Thorsten was in a hospital in West Berlin.
She tries to leave unsuccessfully herself and
becomes embroiled with a group helping people
leave East Berlin.
The Deal
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Eventually she is picked up by the Stasi. A real story
of genuine heroism – she has a baby stuck on the
other side of the wall, and refuses to give up a
West Berliner to stay out of prison and see her
baby. These are the hidden stories of East
Germany.
Hohenschönhausen
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Frau Paul details her prison stay and the ridiculous trial.
The prison was so secret that they could not receive
visitors there – they were transported out to see them
on limited occasions.
She talks about tortures she and other inmates
experienced. And how none of the men that performed
these was ever brought to justice.
The man she protected talks about his regard for her.
(Michael Hinze)
She talks about Mauer in Kopf – but also in a way that
represent a fear of it all happening again. Because
they haven’t seen the change or accountability needed.
Herr Bohnsack
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A Stasi man who outed himself, before he was outed
A spy who travelled to the West to spread
disinformation. He was cultured and elite – and gives
examples of Mielke being an idiot.
He destroyed files without permission when the wall
came down
He has now been ostracized and harassed for his
actions by the old Stasi men. But is not portrayed in
any way as a hero.
Anna leaves (calls Miriam) to be with her sick mother
Berlin Spring 2000
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Anna returns to Germany after her mother’s death.
She tries to get in contact with Miriam (no luck) and
Julia (who has moved to America)
She sits in the park and encounters a group of old
men romanticising how good things were in the
GDR. Anna thinks this is unrealistic.
“…if you didn’t buck the system, then it wouldn’t
harm you”. Anna says from what she can tell this
isnt necessarily true.
The Wall
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A drunk sobs that he doesn’t want to be Germany
anymore!
Hagen Koch is running a tourist bus exploring the
history of the wall. He wants to remember the past.
This chapter also shows how things have changed
since Anna was last here.
Puzzlers
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Anna visits the Nuremberg “Puzzle Women”. The
public has a romantic idea about them but what
Anna finds is a harsh reality – it is underfunded and
understaffed and the harsh reality of 375 years
worth of work makes her feel sorry for Miriam – for
whom there may never be any truth or justice.
Miriam and Charlie
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Miriam bookends the text
She has moved and seems a little more at peace
She bemoans the existence of Ostalgie parties, and
her boss tells her that she needs to conform to the
culture of the station. This reminds her of the past.
Miriam has lost faith that she will find out the truth
about Charlie. So its not over for her – nor for many
East Germans. I think this is what Anna concludes.