Offices of the Minister (House 1)
Completed in 1963, House 1 contained the offices of Stasi Minister Erich Mielke. It was from here that he directed the Stasi headquarters and service units in the districts and counties of the GDR on behalf of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED). A front structure was added in the mid-1970s to shield the glazed main entrance from view of the newly erected high-rises on Frankfurter Allee. On 15 January 1990, courageous citizens gained access to both the Stasi headquarters and to House 1.
The ASTAK association established the Stasi Museum here in November 1990 and continues to run it today. In addition to other initiatives dealing with the history of the SED dictatorship, the umbrella organization for victims’ associations (UOKG e. V.) also works in this landmarked building.