Out-puzzling the Stasi

German scientists are piloting new software to try to reassemble secret documents shredded by East Germany's secret police before reunification.

Some 16,250 sacks containing pieces of 45m documents were found and confiscated by authorities after the fall of the Berlin Wall in late 1989.

Correspondents say the haul contained classified and compromising documents about Stasi informers and victims. . .

Reconstruction work began on the paper fragments 12 years ago. In that time 24 people have only been able to reassemble the contents of 323 sacks.

And now the expectation is that all of the fragments will be reconstructed within four or five years. From the BBC.

Posted by David on May 10, 2007 1:25 PM