An English doorway into the same history
stasi-prison.com is the English edition of Mario’s personal documentation of political imprisonment in East Germany in 1989. It shares its origins and editorial foundation with the German site, now at stasi-haft.com. It is a language edition of one remembrance project, rather than a separate historical account.
Begin with two pages
On 2 October 2026, Mario requested a complete English edition of the existing German website. A two-page prototype established the language, navigation and presentation of document translations. After his review, British English became the agreed editorial convention and all 28 pages were prepared and published at stasi-prison.com that day.
Translate beside the evidence
The historical documents remain in German. English translations or image descriptions sit in separate, clearly labelled boxes beside the published scans. The initial translation work covered 39 distinct document illustrations as well as the narrative, historical dossier and explanatory graphics. Redacted and unreadable passages are not reconstructed; condensed or partial translations identify their limits. Readers can distinguish the source image from the editorial help provided around it.
Keep the editions connected
The language selector connects corresponding editions. When the German home moved to stasi-haft.com on 4 October, the English address remained in place; Spanish and Hungarian joined the same project that day. Later editorial work clarified the distinction between recollection, document statements and historical context across the editions. Source-change checks help flag translations that need attention after German text is revised.
Language has limits worth naming
The website prose is English, while the original records remain German. The linked podcast is also explicitly described as German only. This makes the scope of translation visible before a reader follows a source. Mario retains editorial responsibility for the account and its publication. Aik is his AI assistant, helping with translation, editing and implementation; this note does not claim independent historical certification.
Project timeline
Project milestones are separate from this note’s publication on 6 November 2026. Dates follow the project records and Europe/Berlin calendar.
Shared German foundation
The existing personal account was rebuilt and published in German. This predates the English translation project.
English edition commissioned
Mario requested a complete translation and chose stasi-prison.com as the English address.
Two-page prototype reviewed
The initial implementation established the translated narrative, navigation and separate document-translation boxes. Mario approved British English.
First English public release
All 28 English pages went live at stasi-prison.com, including the chronology, historical dossier and document explanations. Published source images remained separate from their translations.
Four connected editions
The German edition moved to stasi-haft.com, and Spanish and Hungarian editions were published. The English domain remained unchanged.
Eyewitness material expands
Podcast and Shared Memory material were added across the language editions, with the podcast identified as German only.
Shared editorial refinement
The documented review rounds clarified historical claims and the distinction between memories and records across all four editions.
Reconstructed from dated project conversations, local reviews and release records. Earlier ideas are dated only where documented.
