Karl-Heinz Kurras Former German policeman in West Berlin, Stasi informant Date of Birth: 01.12.1927 Country: Germany

1. Early Life and Career in the West Berlin Police
2. Recruitment as a Stasi Informant
3. Providing Intelligence to the Stasi
4. Involvement in Student Protests and the Death of Benno Ohnesorg
5. Dismissal by the Stasi
6. Later Years and Legacy

Early Life and Career in the West Berlin Police

On April 19, 1955, 27-year-old police officer Karl-Heinz Kurras embarked on a secret journey to East Berlin. At the Central Committee building of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED), he requested to "be put into contact with a representative of the State Security Service."

Kurras's meeting with a Stasi officer set in motion a course of events that would profoundly impact both his own life and the history of West Berlin. He expressed disillusionment with political developments in the Western sector and a desire to contribute to the advancement of a "better Germany."

Recruitment as a Stasi Informant

The Stasi recognized Kurras's potential and convinced him to stay in West Berlin as an undercover agent. On April 26, 1955, he signed a pledge of cooperation, codenamed "Otto Boll." Kurras's position within the West Berlin Police Department, particularly in the espionage and defector unit, provided him with valuable information.

Providing Intelligence to the Stasi

As a Stasi informant, Kurras relayed details on police personnel, organizational structure, investigations, and potential security threats. This enabled the Stasi to stay informed about plans and actions directed against them from within West Berlin. In return, Kurras received financial compensation of almost 20,000 Deutsche Marks.

Involvement in Student Protests and the Death of Benno Ohnesorg

On June 2, 1967, during protests against the visit of the Iranian Shah, Kurras participated in the police dispersal of demonstrators. In the ensuing chaos, he fatally shot 26-year-old student Benno Ohnesorg in the back of the head.

Despite eyewitness accounts contradicting his self-defense claims, Kurras remained free, receiving legal support from the police union. The incident sparked outrage and radicalized the student movement in West Berlin.

Dismissal by the Stasi

Kurras's actions on June 2, 1967, marked the end of his cooperation with the Stasi. The Stasi deemed the incident "regrettable" and instructed him to cease activities. Kurras expressed frustration but ultimately complied.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1987, Kurras retired as a Senior Commissioner from the West Berlin Police Department. Since the revelation of his Stasi collaboration, politicians have called for cuts to his pension and a thorough investigation into his involvement in the death of Benno Ohnesorg.

Kurras's personal file with the Stasi, discovered in 2009, provides insights into his motives and mindset. His handlers described him as "raised in fascist values," with a strong affinity for authority and weaponry. The case of Karl-Heinz Kurras remains a complex and controversial chapter in the history of Cold War Berlin.