A decision about my life
On 5 June 1989, a further review of my case began within the East German state apparatus. Under the heading “Review of grounds for refusal — prisoners’ cases”, officials examined whether there were objections to releasing me from prison and allowing me to emigrate permanently to West Germany or West Berlin.
The term “grounds for refusal” can easily be misunderstood. Here, it did not mean reasons to keep me in prison. Instead, the authorities were looking for reasons why the state might still refuse the planned emigration.
“Please send the specific results of the review by 19 June 1989 […]”.
The District Coordination Group requested the results in duplicate and labelled the case “Prisoners’ cases — H 12/89”. Behind this terse administrative language lay a far-reaching decision: would I remain in East Germany after my imprisonment, or would they let me leave directly for the West?
What this sheet does not yet tell us
This first page merely commissions the review. The answer appears on the following sheets, BStU 112 to 114. There, staff recorded their decision and also made claims about my motives and military service which, from my perspective, are partly incorrect.
Source note: This account is based on the copy from my records reproduced here. Redacted passages remain unchanged. Passages that cannot be read with certainty are not reproduced as direct quotations.