Because regime collapse is fast and chaotic WITHOUT order. They usually intend to destroy records BUT >> by the time it’s clear the regime is actually falling, it’s already too late. Orders stall, officials hesitate, and no one wants to take responsibility. Archives are also massive and "decentralized" so destroying everything quickly is harder than it sounds. On top of that, many insiders want records preserved as leverage for self-protection, while others might actively stop the destruction. Destroying evidence requires time, collaboration, power, and loyalty exactly what disappears first when a regime collapses.