RELENTLESS EVIL MEDICAL EXPERIMENT 80 PERCENT OF GERMANY MULHEIM AN DER RHUHR. ELECTROCUTION. POISON. POLIZEI ATTEMPTED MURDER

Zersetzung was that its relatively subtle nature meant that it was able to be plausibly denied, including in diplomatic circles. This was important given that the GDR was trying to improve its international standing during the 1970s and 80s, especially in conjunction with the Ostpolitik of West German Chancellor Willy Brandt massively improving relations between the two German states. For these political and operational reasons Zersetzung became the primary method of repression in the GDR.[n 2]