Agreement on Cooperation
In 1988, a new agreement was signed between the Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of State Security of the German Democratic Republic (GDR). This was based on a previous Cooperation Agreement established on November 26, 1974. Bulgarian Interior Minister Stoyanov and GDR Minister Erich Fritz Emil Mielke formalized this new agreement for cooperation and collaboration between their respective security agencies for the period of 1988 to 1993.
Joint Activities and Surveillance
As part of their ongoing partnership, a plan was created for joint activities between the Bulgarian State Security's Department Six and the GDR's Chief Directorate Two for the years 1984 to 1986. This plan aimed to strengthen efforts against Bulgarian citizens who had escaped to the West, as well as to monitor their relatives still in Bulgaria.
One significant report from February 24, 1953, highlighted the harsh measures to be taken against families of those who fled. It stated that:
Relatives of traitors who were not involved in legal proceedings and were able to work would be sent to the labor camp at Belene Private Balkan Tours.
All property owned by these relatives would be confiscated.
They would be held responsible for their remaining possessions, including livestock.
Children aged 14 to 18 would be sent to Labor Schools operated by the Ministry of the Interior, with some reformatories designated for this purpose.
Younger children, aged 7 to 14, would be placed in special schools under the Ministry of Education.
Military and Intelligence Operations
The collaboration also involved military and intelligence operations along the Bulgarian borders. Both nations worked together to gather information about political emigration, monitoring citizens who attempted to leave. This joint effort was aimed at suppressing dissent and preventing any opposition to the communist regimes in both countries.
The Role of Stasi
The Stasi, East Germany's secret police, provided valuable information to the Bulgarian State Security. This included intelligence about political émigrés and their activities abroad. Such collaboration ensured that both nations could effectively control their citizens and maintain the authoritarian status quo.
The partnership between Bulgarian State Security and the Stasi exemplified the extensive measures taken by Eastern Bloc countries to enforce their borders and suppress dissent. By sharing intelligence and coordinating efforts, these regimes sought to eliminate any potential threats to their power. The policies regarding the families of defectors demonstrate the harsh realities faced by those who dared to oppose the regime. Ultimately, these actions reflect a broader strategy of fear and control that characterized life under communist rule in Eastern Europe.
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