Support Our Work Mailing list About / Contact

Germany: intelligence failures

01 May 1992

Support our work: become a Friend of Statewatch from as little as £1/€1 per month.

Using confidential BKA statistics, Falco Werkentin, a German researcher, has revealed that of the 10,000 to 15,000 Staatsschutz (state security) investigations initiated yearly in the former West Germany, some 60 to 70% originated from information voluntarily provided by civilians. Most of these political crimes are in the sphere of espionage, treason, terrorist activities, public order violations during demonstrations, sabotage, press law violations and the like.

His research shows that although the number of Verfassungsschutz officials had risen from 2,480 in 1970 to some 5,100 in 1990, the percentage of Staatsschutz investigations that originated from Verfassungsschutz and other intelligence services steadily declined from 2.4% in the early 1970s to 0.3% in 1985 (no later figure is available). Werkentin concludes that such an ineffective organization had best be liquidated by the Treuhand, which has vast experience in closing down factories in the former GDR.

Berlin Tageszeitung 30.3.92.

Our work is only possible with your support.
Become a Friend of Statewatch from as little as £1/€1 per month.

 Previous article

Germany: Security group under scrutiny

Next article 

Death in the Highlands

 

Spotted an error? If you've spotted a problem with this page, just click once to let us know.

Report error

Statewatch does not have a corporate view, nor does it seek to create one, the views expressed are those of the author. Statewatch is not responsible for the content of external websites and inclusion of a link does not constitute an endorsement. Registered UK charity number: 1154784. Registered UK company number: 08480724. Registered company name: The Libertarian Research & Education Trust. Registered office: MayDay Rooms, 88 Fleet Street, London EC4Y 1DH. © Statewatch ISSN 1756-851X. Personal usage as private individuals "fair dealing" is allowed. We also welcome links to material on our site. Usage by those working for organisations is allowed only if the organisation holds an appropriate licence from the relevant reprographic rights organisation (eg: Copyright Licensing Agency in the UK) with such usage being subject to the terms and conditions of that licence and to local copyright law.

About | Contact | Privacy Policy