True or False 2.5 points The Stasi were known for helping and protecting East German Citizens? True False

False! The Stasi, officially known as the Ministerium für Staatssicherheit, was the secret police of East Germany and was infamous for its surveillance and oppressive tactics. Rather than helping citizens, they instilled fear through extensive spying, intimidation, and repression of dissent, transforming ordinary East Germans into informants in many cases. Their primary goal was to uphold the socialist regime and eliminate any opposition. If you dive deeper into history, you'll find that the Stasi had over 200,000 unofficial informants at its peak, monitoring nearly every aspect of citizens' lives. This extensive network of surveillance made them one of the most feared intelligence agencies in the world, leaving a complex legacy that still affects German society today.