A series of old photos documents an unlikely confrontation. On one side of the room stand members of the East German secret police outfitted in official atire. On the other side is a motley mix of subversive characters and nonconformists: environmental and peace activists, their lapels bearing an array of political buttons, as well as athletes, whose participation in competitions abroad led them to thoughts of defecting. And decked out in full church regalia are clergymen, commonly known to lend sympathy to dissidents and assist people trying to leave the country.
In a flash, the spies and their targets all turn cheerful, exchange gifts and have a champagne toast.
If the scene sounds too odd to be authentic, that's because it isn't. But the story behind it is nearly as strange. The series of photos were taken at the birthday party of a high-ranking official in communist East Germany's Ministry for State Security, or Stasi. The party guests were asked to come dressed as top surveillance targets. The images are absurd, and the crooked smiles of several guests reveal that the cynicism of the event was not lost on them.
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