The SED, the Stasi and the border, 1961 to 1989

How did a small party keep control of 16 million people for 40 years? Through the party's grip on every institution, a huge secret police, and a deadly border.

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The SED in charge

The SED (Socialist Unity Party) controlled the government, the courts, the media and the economy. Other parties existed but had to follow its lead.
The 1968 constitution described the GDR as a socialist state led by the working class and its party.
Walter Ulbricht led the party until 1971, when Erich Honecker replaced him.
Young people were organised in the FDJ (Free German Youth); joining helped with jobs and university places.

The Stasi

The Stasi (Ministry for State Security, set up in 1950) was led by Erich Mielke from 1957 to 1989.
By 1989 it had around 90,000 full-time staff and a much larger number of unofficial informers, ordinary people who reported on colleagues, neighbours and even family.
It tapped phones, opened letters and kept files on millions of people.
From the 1970s it increasingly used quiet psychological harassment, such as spreading rumours or damaging careers, instead of open arrests.

Army and border

The National People's Army (NVA) was set up in 1956; conscription began in 1962, after the Wall made it possible.
The border with West Germany and around West Berlin was fenced, mined and guarded, and guards were expected to shoot to stop escapes.
Hundreds of people died trying to cross, while others escaped by tunnels, hidden in cars, or by balloon.
Worked example

Explain how the Stasi kept control in the GDR.

  1. Surveillance: phone tapping, opening letters, files on millions.
  2. Informers: a huge network of unofficial informers meant people never knew who was reporting on them.
  3. Effect: fear and self-censorship; from the 1970s quiet harassment ruined lives without public trials.

Answer: By watching people constantly through surveillance and informers, so that fear made most people conform.

Key idea

The SED controlled every institution; the 1968 constitution confirmed its leading role. Honecker replaced Ulbricht in 1971. The Stasi (founded 1950, led by Mielke 1957 to 1989) had about 90,000 staff and many more informers, used surveillance and, later, psychological harassment. NVA from 1956, conscription from 1962, a deadly guarded border.

Key words
SED
The Socialist Unity Party, the communist party that ruled East Germany until 1989.
Stasi
The East German secret police.
Conscription
Compulsory military service. In Britain it began in 1916 and again in 1939.
GDR
The German Democratic Republic: communist East Germany, from 1949 until reunification in 1990.

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. Who led the SED when the Wall was built?

    1. Erich Honecker
    2. Egon Krenz
    3. Willy Brandt
    4. Walter Ulbricht
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    Answer: Walter Ulbricht

    Ulbricht led until 1971.

  2. Who was the Stasi chief under Honecker?

    1. Egon Krenz
    2. Erich Mielke
    3. Walter Ulbricht
    4. Helmut Kohl
    Show the answer

    Answer: Erich Mielke

    Mielke led the Stasi from 1957 to 1989.

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Sources and references

Checked by the GCSE-ready editorial team, 17 October 2026. Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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