GDR Stasi people receive medals from Russia: “Officers of Russia”

The Germany head of an association of Russian security forces keeps in close contact with former Stasi employees. Medals are even awarded to each other. Is that more than obscure tradition?

The most visible souvenir from Germany was bright blue and made of fabric: Oleg Eremenko brought a flag to Moscow in November 2022. It shows the emblem of the so-called “Officers of Russia”, a 300,000-member Russian organization of military and security forces employees. He heads its German branch, and former members of the National People’s Army (NVA) and the State Security (Stasi) of the GDR left good wishes for the Russian troops in eastern Ukraine on the flag. Other gifts to the “officers of Russia” were smaller but even stranger: medals from East German associations.

Posts on social media show that the “Officers of Russia” and associations of former Stasi officials honor each other’s members. Among other things, the “Officers of Russia” honored former GDR top spies. Conversely, last year Eremenko presented medals from unflinching GDR supporters to the head of the officers’ association in Moscow.

In times of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and Russia’s claim to be a great power, which sees itself challenged by the West, this raises questions. For example: What is the connection between the German die-hards and the Russian imperialists for? Just to maintain tradition or does it go beyond that?

The historian Hubertus Knabe, former director of the Stasi memorial in Berlin-Hohenschönhausen, sees a new phenomenon in the cooperation with the “officers of Russia”, as he told t-online: “The Ministry for State Security is quasi as Putin’s combat reserve in Germany.”

In fact, there are indications. The connections between GDR supporters and the “officers of Russia” seem to be close. Last but not least, statements by Oleg Eremenko and postings in social networks suggest this.

As t-online reported, the Russian Eremenko, who was once an officer in the Russian military intelligence service GRU, holds a number of positions in Russian organizations in the EU, not just among the “officers”. An association of former paratroopers and elite soldiers of the GDR, the Soviet Union and Russia resides at his address. He also has ties to former Donbass militia leader Igor Girkin, his chief recruiter, and to the notorious Wagner mercenary group.

In Russia, Eremenko keeps reporting on his connections to former GDR structures: “We try to hold events together with former representatives of the GDR army,” he said at an “Anti-Fascist Forum” in Moscow in 2022. “Despite their advanced age, these Germans ready to join the ranks and support the Russians.” In March of this year he reiterated that: “There are many Germans who support us, officers from the former national army of the GDR, many from state structures, from the Stasi,” he said in March. They are said to be almost ready to do anything the commander-in-chief says.

Eremenko’s “officers” are grateful for this loyalty.

Based on social media posts that have since been deleted, it can be understood that, among other things, they awarded the former GDR top spy Rainer Rupp their medal “For Officer Honor”. Rupp once spied for the GDR at NATO headquarters, brought secret documents to East Berlin and was convicted of treason for this. In some circles he is still highly praised today because he allegedly prevented a nuclear war with his information.

Rupp is not the only prominent bearer of the Russian medals.

Werner Großmann was also honored by the Russian Officers’ Association shortly before he died in January 2022. Großmann was once the deputy minister for state security in the GDR and ultimately the last head of the main administration for reconnaissance, i.e. the foreign secret service of the GDR. He shares responsibility for the destruction of the files during the period of reunification.