Erich Schmidt
Erich Schmidt ran the Stasi with an iron fist, though he knew how to play the public game. When cameras were on, he came across as charismatic and reasonable—the kind of leader who could convince people that his regime's grip on East Germany was actually fair and necessary. Behind closed doors, though, it was a different story. Those who worked under him described a paranoid, calculating man who'd turn on anyone without hesitation if he sensed even a whisper of a threat to his power. Colleagues learned quickly that loyalty was the only thing that kept you safe.
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