Leipzig's Communist Legacy, Party 4... the Stasi vs the Cure

Youth in the Stasi's Crosshairs: "Crypt-ies"

A Grufti (Goth)

I wrote my master's thesis on East German youth in the 70s, so I was really excited to visit this temporary exhibition in the Runde Ecke Museum. As you ascended the four stories to the top of a staircase, you could look at displays explaining all the different youth subcultures in the GDR. Each display included Stasi documents describing the attributes of each group, photographs of kids who they picked up for questioning, and transcripts of interrogations. The groups included "trampers" (hippies), punks, skinheads, "rockers" (metal-heads), and "grufties" (goths). Of course all of these subcultures were a threat to the East German state--they all rejected the values of "real, existing socialism". Some rejected materialism, others embraced anarchy or even fascism. Goths retreated into a kind of romantic-nihilistic fantasy world.

I'm including some of the documents below. The first two images are from a Stasi briefing document. It explains what goths are, what they do, and what they believe. Under "Characteristics" they are described as a "New Manifestation" since 1987. Distinguishing characteristics include teased hair, white pancake makeup, red lips, heavy black eyeliner, black clothing. In particular, agents should know about their "calm demeanor, vampire-thoughts (they would like to sleep in caskets)". They like listening to "De Guere". Seeing as there was no such goth band in 1987, I assume this is supposed to be "The Cure".

What else of note? 

1) They go to dance parties, "seldom laugh, display a depressed attitude". 

2) They believe in resurrection of the dead (a big deal in communist East Germany)

3) In extreme cases they use coffins as pieces of furniture to store clothing to sleep in. They cover the floors with a layer of dirt. 

Finally, I leave the transcript of an interrogation. The official wants to know whether the goths plan their meetings in graveyards and if they engage in acts of vandalism. The suspect explains that none of it is planned in advance. They just like to go to clubs and then meet afterwards to hang out. Nevertheless, it's clear from the document that the suspect has already provided the officer with a list of names.

East Germans talk about how they developed a Nischengesellschaft (niche/alcove-society). Because the state insisted on public support and carefully policed people's public speech, it was only possible to speak with total freedom when you met in private with small groups of like-minded friends and family. I can see how some GDR youth would turn to the goth subculture--more than any other, it felt like a retreat into an alcove.

I leave you with The Cure in all their glorious emo-cryptiness...