Putin’s Stasi ID found in German Archives
Putin’s Stasi ID Germany
Unveiling the Curious Find of Vladimir Putin’s STASI ID Card in Dresden
Researchers in Germany have made a fascinating discovery at the Stasi documentation center in Dresden. Archivists stumbled upon an ID card that was issued to Vladimir Putin, the current president of Russia, when he was a KGB officer in East Germany at the end of the Cold War.
The Sensation of Putin’s STASI ID Card Putin ‘sStasi ID Germany
The ID card of Mr. Putin was found among documents on officer training in the eastern city while archivists were following up on an unrelated media inquiry. The Stasi archives in Dresden archive the activities of East Germany’s all-powerful secret police. Konrad Felber, the director of the Stasi archives in Dresden, said that this discovery was a “mini-sensation” as it provided insight into the background of a world leader. This STASI ID would have given Mr. Putin broad access to the secret police’s offices, which means he didn’t need to disclose his work for the KGB.
Putin’s Time in Dresden
Before entering Russian politics, Vladimir Putin spent four years as an agent of the Russian KGB in Dresden in the 1980s, and he witnessed the collapse of the communist state first-hand. However, the director of the Stasi archives cautioned against concluding that the man who rose to dominate Russian politics was secretly on the Stasi payroll. It was “common practice” at that time in East Germany to provide KGB officers like Mr. Putin with identification documents.
The Kremlin’s Response to the Discovery
A spokesperson for the Kremlin told Russian news agency Tass that “the KGB and Stasi were allied services. Therefore one cannot rule out that they exchanged ID cards.” While Mr. Putin’s time in Dresden is still shrouded in secrecy, he is known to have successfully deterred protesters from breaking into the KGB offices during the democratic revolution of 1989. Mr. Putin reportedly told the crowd that they had no right to enter Russian territory while a soldier loaded a Kalashnikov next to him. Putin Stasi ID Germany
Putin’s Multilingualism
The Russian president also speaks almost faultless German, which he has used in the past to woo German politicians. A year after taking office, he spoke to the German parliament in 2001, calling for more understanding between Berlin and Moscow. His multilingualism and time in East Germany provide an interesting insight into the background of a world leader, and the discovery of his STASI ID card is a mini-sensation that is sure to capture the attention of people worldwide.
Conclusion
The discovery of Vladimir Putin’s STASI ID card at the Stasi documentation center in Dresden has generated a lot of buzz. The ID card provides insights into the Russian president’s time as a KGB officer in East Germany and the collapse of the communist state. The Kremlin’s response to the discovery has been intriguing, and Mr. Putin’s multilingualism adds another layer to the fascinating story of the world leader. Putin’s Stasi ID Germany
FAQ Passport History pasaporte passeport паспорт 护照 パスポート جواز سفر पासपोर्ट
1. What are the earliest known examples of passports, and how have they evolved?
The word "passport" came up only in the mid 15th Century. Before that, such documents were safe conducts, recommendations or protection letters. On a practical aspect, the earliest passport I have seen was from the mid 16th Century. Read more...
2. Are there any notable historical figures or personalities whose passports are highly sought after by collectors?
Every collector is doing well to define his collection focus, and yes, there are collectors looking for Celebrity passports and travel documents of historical figures like Winston Churchill, Brothers Grimm, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Read more...
3. How did passport designs and security features change throughout different periods in history, and what impact did these changes have on forgery prevention?
"Passports" before the 18th Century had a pure functional character. Security features were, in the best case, a watermark and a wax seal. Forgery, back then, was not an issue like it is nowadays. Only from the 1980s on, security features became a thing. A state-of-the-art passport nowadays has dozens of security features - visible and invisible. Some are known only by the security document printer itself. Read more...
4. What are some of the rarest and most valuable historical passports that have ever been sold or auctioned?
Lou Gehrig, Victor Tsoi, Marilyn Monroe, James Joyce, and Albert Einstein when it comes to the most expensive ones. Read more...
5. How do diplomatic passports differ from regular passports, and what makes them significant to collectors?
Such documents were often held by officials in high ranks, like ambassadors, consuls or special envoys. Furthermore, these travel documents are often frequently traveled. Hence, they hold a tapestry of stamps or visas. Partly from unusual places.
6. Can you provide insights into the stories behind specific historical passports that offer unique insights into past travel and migration trends?
A passport tells the story of its bearer and these stories can be everything - surprising, sad, vivid. Isabella Bird and her travels (1831-1904) or Mary Kingsley, a fearless Lady explorer.
7. What role did passports play during significant historical events, such as wartime travel restrictions or international treaties?
During war, a passport could have been a matter of life or death. Especially, when we are looking into WWII and the Holocaust. And yes, during that time, passports and similar documents were often forged to escape and save lives. Example...
8. How has the emergence of digital passports and biometric identification impacted the world of passport collecting?
Current modern passports having now often a sparkling, flashy design. This has mainly two reasons. 1. Improved security and 2. Displaying a countries' heritage, icons, and important figures or achievements. I can fully understand that those modern documents are wanted, especially by younger collectors.
9. Are there any specialized collections of passports, such as those from a specific country, era, or distinguished individuals?
Yes, the University of Western Sidney Library has e.g. a passport collection of the former prime minister Hon Edward Gough Whitlam and his wife Margaret. They are all diplomatic passports and I had the pleasure to apprise them. I hold e.g. a collection of almost all types of the German Empire passports (only 2 types are still missing). Also, my East German passport collection is quite extensive with pretty rare passport types.
10. Where can passport collectors find reliable resources and reputable sellers to expand their collection and learn more about passport history?
A good start is eBay, Delcampe, flea markets, garage or estate sales. The more significant travel documents you probably find at the classic auction houses. Sometimes I also offer documents from my archive/collection. See offers... As you are already here, you surely found a great source on the topic 😉
Other great sources are: Scottish Passports, The Nansen passport, The secret lives of diplomatic couriers
11. Is vintage passport collecting legal? What are the regulations and considerations collectors should know when acquiring historical passports?
First, it's important to stress that each country has its own laws when it comes to passports. Collecting old vintage passports for historical or educational reasons is safe and legal, or at least tolerated. More details on the legal aspects are here...
Does this article spark your curiosity about passport collecting and the history of passports? With this valuable information, you have a good basis to start your own passport collection.
Question? Contact me...
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