Response to Der Baader Meinhof Komplex

Personal Response

The Baader Meinhof Complex is one of the most striking and provocative movies I have seen in quite some time. It is definitely not a movie for the feint of heart and really makes you think about what is truly right and wrong, and who defines it. The movie goes straight at the idea of terrorism and asks if it can be justified in Germany's global situation in the late 1960's and 70's. In order to fight for equality across the world, including Iran and Vietnam, a group of college students starts to fight violently against the German governments light involvement and American 'imperialism'. They feel that the only way to make the world a more 'human' society is to employ bombings, kidnappings, and killings. The RAF (Red Army Faction, or Rote Armee Fraktion) believes that their actions will make a difference in the world by sending a strong message, and force Germany out of any involvement and even get the US out of Vietnam.

One could look at this in one of two ways: they are justified, or they aren't. If one believes that the death of a few for the life of the many is fair, and would stand behind and participate in RAF activities, then by today's laws they are nothing more than a common terrorist. At least in the US they would likely get shipped out to Guantanamo Bay or some other very secure facility. If one doesn't agree with their position, then by RAF standards that person is allowing 'fascism' to spread across Europe and the world.

Rote Armee Fraktion Research Questions

1. Causes

The end of World War II brought vast changes to both Europe, and it certainly didn't leave Germany behind. East and West Germans had to adjust to a change in power from the Nazi's to something new. However, many those that held political power during the Nazi reign did not go silently, and often again found themselves in positions of political power in West Germany's new government. Also, because of the greatly differing experiences that citizens went through during Nazi power compared to those who were born during or afterward there was a sort of divide between the youth and everyone else. Many youth felt that West Germany had become a fascist state being run by the same people who ran Nazi Germany, and some felt that violent action was justified in order to stop it.

2. The Three Generations

The first generation of the RAF, the founders, were considered to be Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin, Hort Mahler, and Ulrike Meinhof. Baader was the leader of the group, Mahler was Baader's girlfriend (and is considered to have had significant influence over the groups actions), and Meinhof was a well known journalist and wrote almost all of the groups publications. There were many others, but this was the core group. The second generation started forming in 1972 after many of the first generation had been killed or captured. Many of those who joined at this time had been part of other similar organizations that had fizzled out, such as the Social Patient's Collective (SPK), and Movement 2 June (M2J), and were of similar demographics of college age students. The third generation was active mostly during the 1980's and early 90's. According to Tom Vague, this group was "considered more viscous than their predecessors". Vague suggests that they also didn't have as much reason to rebel, as the former Nazi leaders aged and new political candidates slowly replaced them.

3. The End of the RAF

On April 20th, 1998, an eight page typewritten letter was sent to Reuters News Agency declaring the official end to the RAF. It concluded with this statement, "Almost 28 years ago, on 14 May 1970, the RAF arose in a campaign of liberation. Today we end this project. The urban guerrilla in the shape of the RAF is now history".

4. Similarities Between Today's Terrorists and the RAF

The RAF used very similar terror tactics as todays terrorists. Bombings, hijackings, kidnappings, and killings are all terroristic actions that both the RAF and modern terrorists used. This type of action is an attempt to force governments to listen to extremist demands in order to save the lives of its own people. However, the one being terrorized must weigh the cost of giving in, since the terrorists might be more eager to try another operation again if they feel they can leverage the same amount of power.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_army_faction
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Members_of_the_Red_Army_Faction