"Faction of the Red Army": description, history and interesting facts

"Faction of the Red Army" is one of the most famous leftist groups of the second half of the 20th century. Her work still occasionally causes controversy in German and world society. The group operated on the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany and became famous for its bold deeds committed in the name of revolution and struggle with the capitalist system. Ideas and images of RAF (such an abbreviation is often found in Russian-language sources, as the German organization was called Rote Armee Fraktion) often inspire young leftists today.

Prerequisites for creation

The "Red Army Faction" officially appeared in 1968. However, the organization of the group occurred much earlier. After the end of World War II, Germany was divided. The western part was occupied by American and British troops. In this territory, the capitalist Federal Republic of Germany was created. The government was in serious dependence on the United States. In the 1960s, a new generation grew up, which did not remember Nazi times. They interpreted the events of the first half of the 20th century in their own way, and because of this a gap was formed between the youth and older people. Leftist ideas began to gain popularity among the intelligentsia. Gradually, hatred began to grow for the government and the United States of America, which had a significant impact on the life and politics of the FRG.

American imperialism

After the US invasion of Vietnam, discontent only increased. A wave of anti-American protests swept across Europe. Mostly these were student demonstrations. On the territory of Germany there are informal organizations, which become in a tough opposition to the current regime. Because of the pressure and repression, all these organizations do not get into parliament. In the first half of the 1960s, student groups held various rallies and protests, all of them peaceful. Future members of the RAF are actively engaged in political activities. But all attempts to create an organized structure are not crowned with success. The opposition breaks up into small isolated associations, which mainly deal with ideological disputes.

The participants

"Faction of the Red Army" was not a serious political force or a huge structure. Her active participants were familiar with each other and were very secretive. For all time of existence of association in it there were no more than hundred persons from the basic active. However, the RAF worked closely with other radical leftist and communist organizations in Germany and abroad. The "Red Army Faction" and the "Red Brigades" often organized joint actions of direct action and helped each other.

At the source of the RAF was Andreas Baader. He was born into a family of historians and brought up by his grandmother. Immediately after graduation, he took up active social work. I tried to open an orphanage for homeless children, participated in various actions and demonstrations. After meeting Gudrun, Enslin begins to fight against the bourgeoisie and the government of Germany. Also, as a leader, you can call Ulrik Meinhof. Her story is very similar to the biography of other prominent members of the RAF. Ulrika was left without parents early. Was brought up by relatives. At the university she studied philosophy and sociology. Then she worked in various publications. Even during my studies I met the Spanish radical left. She wrote several famous works on political science and philosophy. Together with Baader and Enslin Ulrika participated in the arson of the supermarket, which was the starting point. It was from the ashes of supermarkets in Frankfurt am Main that the "Faction of the Red Army" appeared.

Escalation

By 1968, the RAF members had already established a certain association. Along with other left-wing people, they participated in demonstrations. At the same time, they started discussions about the possibility of using violence against their opponents. So, from young dreamers young people turned into confident terrorists, ready for anything. A breakthrough in the ideology of the "Faction of the Red Army" can be considered a demonstration in 1967. On June 2, Shah of Iran Mohammed Pahlavi arrived in Germany. Then thousands of people went out to protest against the Muslim dictator. The furious crowd began a clash with the police, as a result of which one of the police fired at a student Benno Oneszorg. Then the young revolutionaries realized that the system would not allow them to spread their ideas so simply.

Arson

A year later, several RAF members set fire to large supermarkets in the city of Frankfurt am Main. According to the arsonists, this action should remind the European society that there are other countries in which people suffer because of the wars unleashed by the imperialists. The fire symbolized napalm, which the American troops dumped on Vietnamese settlements, burning them to the ground. All the participants of the arson were detained in a few days. They were sentenced to three years in prison. However, this decision caused discontent in the West German society. The protest actions forced the government to release all members of the RAF on bail.

Shares of direct action

Nine days after the arson, one of the members of the ultra-right group is attempting an assault on a socialist student Rudi Duchke. After this attempt, the leaders of the RAF decide to start more radical actions. They are not in court and are hiding from the authorities. However, in 1970 Baader was arrested. Ulrika Meinhof decides to implement a daring plan to free his associate. Being a famous journalist, she literally knocks herself permission to an interview with Andreas. He is brought to the Institute of Sociology. At the meeting, Ulrika took with her arms, with which she wounded the guards and fled with Baader.

In the summer she sends the RAF manifesto to one of the German magazines. The members of the group themselves consider the escape of Andreas as the beginning of their activity. The fraction explains the meaning of the word "red army" as a reference to the Russian revolutionary army of 1918. As a basis for methods of struggle, the revolutionaries take the experience of the Latin insurgents and their urban guerrilla.

Guerrilla warfare

In the first years after the escape of Baader, the members of the RAF began preparations for guerrilla warfare. They attacked cash collection machines and robbed banks. Also, a wave of thefts of secret documents swept through Berlin. The group created a very impressive underground network. There were many supporters of the German "Red Army", the faction continued to disseminate and propaganda materials. The government thoroughly took on the radicals, declaring them a federal wanted list.

In 1972, there was the first major terrorist attack. Left fighters staged a series of explosions throughout Germany. The objects of the attack were the institutions of diplomatic and other missions of the United States of America. As a result of the RAF's actions, 4 people were killed and several dozen were injured.

Capture Leaders

In the summer of 1972, all prominent members of the RAF were arrested. About the organization "Faction of the Red Army" then wrote the entire world press. Well-known lawyers have undertaken to protect the arrested. Leftists around the world held protests. The famous French philosopher Jean Paul Sartre personally visited the Federal Republic of Germany and met with the prisoner Baader. The image of the martyrs enlisted new supporters in the so-called "second generation of the RAF." They produced a series of murders and hostage-taking in order to obtain from the German government the release of terrorists.

One of the most famous cases is the capture of the Lufthansa aircraft by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Nevertheless, all RAF leaders were sentenced to life imprisonment. And in 1976-1977, all of them died in the prison of Stamheim under suspicious circumstances. According to the authorities, the cause of death was collective suicide. However, this version was not credible, especially given the strictness of the content of terrorists and the complexity of suicide in solitary confinement.

Dissolution

After the death of Baader, Meinhof and others, the RAF had many followers. For more than twenty years they have committed bold attacks on high-ranking officials and large corporations. In 1998, the "Faction of the Red Army" ceased to exist. Self-dissolution was declared a member of the so-called "fourth generation". As a reason, they pointed out the futility of further struggle and the pressure of the repressive machine of the state.

Nevertheless, among the left-wing intelligentsia, to this day there are many supporters of the RAF. In the hearts of young revolutionaries the "Faction of the Red Army" is still alive. The history of this group formed the basis of many films and songs.