I was reading the other day and came upon some Interesting horrors of History...
For instance one example was after Germany was partitioned in 1945, East Germany became the domain of the Ministerium Staatssicherheit, also known as the "Stasi" -- a secret police force that had eyes and ears in practically every house. The Stasi had both the tools and imagination to surveillance and dispose of any "subversive individuals," and they used them liberally. One monstrous method, zersetsung, was devised solely to drive these subversives insane.
It was like weaponized passive-aggression.
The Stasi would arrange for paperwork and permit applications submitted by the "target" to be lost or delayed. They would have doctors dispense incorrect medication. They would start rumors or even fabricate evidence that the target was corrupt or engaged in an extramarital affair in order to destroy their social standing. They would even break into people's homes and rearrange their furniture or steal innocuous objects -- including, we kid you not, odd socks.
It's not that any one of these things would break a person, but collectively, they're a nightmare. Your worst days are the ones where everything goes wrong, and for these targets, that was every single day. Zerzetsung wasn't a one-and-done tactic; it was a calculated strategy designed to gradually wear down people's confidence, mental stability, and social relationships until they had nothing left. The English translation of the term, by the way? "Decomposition."
It was devastatingly effective against many people who were targeted not for being dissidents or troublemakers, but because they'd been grassed up by vindictive colleagues, neighbors, or friends and family. That's perhaps the scariest thing of all. You could be living your best life one day, then somebody whispers something nasty about you, and the state starts gas-lighting you into oblivion the next.
To maybe be a little flippant ~ My one question is:
"They would even break into people's homes and rearrange their furniture or steal innocuous objects -- including, I kid you not, odd socks."
This leads me to wonder if my dryer is a member of the Stasi?
LOL! 😅
I sure hope everyone finds their socks and has a wonderful day.
Nana
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