The Stasi, officially known as the Ministry for State Security, was the official state security service of the former East Germany from 1950 until the reunification of Germany in 1990. Its primary role was to monitor, suppress, and control the population to prevent dissent against the Socialist regime. The Stasi employed a vast network of informants and used extensive surveillance techniques. The Stasi was notorious for its methods, which included wiretapping, infiltration of organizations, and psychological manipulation. It is estimated that one in every 63 East Germans worked as an informant for the Stasi, creating a climate of fear and mistrust among citizens.