key term - Red Army Faction

Definition

The Red Army Faction (RAF) was a far-left extremist group in West Germany active from the late 1960s through the 1990s, known for its revolutionary Marxist ideology and violent tactics. The RAF emerged from the student protests and workers' strikes of the time, as many young people became disillusioned with capitalism and U.S. imperialism, leading them to adopt radical measures to incite political change.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The RAF was founded in 1970 and sought to combat what it perceived as a fascist state in West Germany, drawing inspiration from Marxist-Leninist ideologies.
2. The group is infamously known for its involvement in numerous high-profile attacks, including bank robberies, kidnappings, and bombings aimed at government and corporate targets.
3. One of the most notorious events associated with the RAF was the kidnapping and murder of industrialist Hanns Martin Schleyer in 1977, which escalated a wave of terrorism across Germany.
4. The RAF gained notoriety for its underground tactics and often communicated with the public through manifestos that outlined their revolutionary goals and justifications for violence.
5. The group's influence waned by the late 1980s and early 1990s as political dynamics changed in Germany, leading to a decline in support for their violent methods.

Review Questions

• How did the student protests and workers' strikes contribute to the formation of the Red Army Faction?
  • The student protests and workers' strikes of the late 1960s created a climate of discontent among young people in West Germany. Many were influenced by anti-capitalist sentiments and opposition to U.S. foreign policy, which fostered a sense of urgency for revolutionary change. This environment motivated individuals to join or form radical groups like the Red Army Faction as they sought more aggressive means of challenging what they saw as an oppressive state.
• In what ways did the Red Army Faction's tactics reflect broader trends in counterculture movements during the 1960s and 1970s?
  • The Red Army Faction's tactics were heavily influenced by broader counterculture movements that emphasized anti-establishment sentiments and radical political action. Many members were part of a generation that rejected traditional values and sought transformative change through any means necessary. Their use of violence and guerrilla warfare can be seen as an extreme reaction to perceived failures of peaceful protest, echoing similar tactics adopted by other leftist groups worldwide during that era.
• Evaluate the impact of the Red Army Faction on West German society and politics during its active years, particularly regarding public perception of terrorism.
  • The Red Army Faction had a significant impact on West German society by shaping public discourse around terrorism, state security, and civil liberties. As their violent actions escalated, they instilled fear among citizens while also provoking debates about governmental responses to terrorism. The RAF's activities led to stricter laws aimed at countering terrorism but also raised concerns about state overreach and civil rights violations. This complex legacy affected how future generations viewed both radical activism and state authority in Germany.

Related terms

Baader-Meinhof Group:

Another name for the Red Army Faction, derived from its founders Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof, highlighting the personal identities that symbolized the group.

Guerilla Warfare: A form of irregular warfare in which small groups use tactics like ambushes and sabotage to fight larger conventional forces, closely associated with the RAF's operational methods.

Counterculture: A social movement that rejected mainstream values and norms, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s, influencing groups like the RAF to seek radical societal change.