Stasi's Psychological Warfare: Zersetzung Technique

The Stasi, East Germany's Secret Police, employed a psychological technique known as Zersetzung, aimed at destroying the self-confidence of perceived enemies through subtle means. This included disrupting the victim's private life by breaking into their home, manipulating contents, and engaging in psychological attacks like gaslighting, property damage, sabotage, career sabotage, and smear campaigns. Zersetzung's advantage lay in its subtle and deniable nature, allowing the Stasi to avoid international condemnation while effectively paralyzing perceived threats.