Syria has been liberated from six decades of dictatorship. The initial euphoria following the regime’s collapse quickly gave way to grief, reflection, and the overwhelming scale of loss. More than 200,000 people are estimated to have disappeared during the regime’s rule, according to Amnesty International. A few witness testimonies had already hinted at their fate—and helped locate mass graves that were once only visible in satellite imagery. Now, these sites are accessible, and families begin an endless search for even the smallest trace of their loved ones. In former prisons and intelligence offices, survivors and relatives sift through charred and scattered documents, hoping to find a name, a date, or a photograph. For nearly six weeks after the revolution, I traveled across Syria for DER SPIEGEL, documenting the country.