2 June Movement

2 June Movement
Dates of operation 1971–1980
Leader(s) Fritz Teufel
Active region(s) West Berlin
Ideology Anarchist

2 June Movement (German: Bewegung 2. Juni) was a West German violent non-state actor based in West Berlin. Active from 1971–1980, the anarchist group was one of the few violent groups at the time in West Germany. Although 2 June Movement did not share the same ideology as the Red Army Faction (Baader-Meinhof Gang), these extremist organizations were allies. The 2 June Movement did not establish as much influence in West Germany as their Marxist counterparts, but is best known for kidnapping West Berlin mayoral candidate Peter Lorenz.[1]

History

Rising from the ashes of political group Kommune 1 and violent extremist group Tupamaros West-Berlin, 2 June Movement was formed in 1971. In contrast to the Red Army Faction, 2 June Movement was anarchist, rather than Marxist. This organization derived their name from the date that German university student Benno Ohnesorg was killed by police in 1967. Participating in a protest of Germany's meeting with Iran, Ohnesorg was shot when the demonstrators were attacked by police. His death propelled the left-wing movement in West Germany, influencing politicians, political activists, and violent extremist groups. Although the organization never became particularly notorious, 2 June Movement was most recognized in the first phase of German post-World War II terrorism.[1]

Fritz Teufel

After forming in 1971, political activist Fritz Teufel became one of the leaders of the 2 June Movement.[2] Originally taking part in Kommune 1, his comical take on revolutionary activity had him dubbed "fun guerilla" by the general public. In 1967, Teufel became a quasi-icon in West Germany after being arrested. Charged with treason and the attempted assassination of United States Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Teufel was eventually acquitted. His humorous image was constructed following his arrest, as he and his associates were brought into questioning with a flour-pudding-yogurt concoction that was to be used as a "bomb." On 2 June 1967, Teufel was arrested again, this time falsely accused of throwing a rock at police and provoking the riot at which Benno Ohnesorg was killed. This time, he served six months in jail.[3]

Although the 2 June Movement never developed a clear ideology or purpose for its existence, Teufel's political activism was rooted in his hatred for his parents' generation. Just like many students and activists of his age, Teufel was angered by the Nazi regime of the previous generation, and fought to eliminate that image from Germany. Much of the resentment was directed towards those individuals who had played a role in the Nazi regime, especially those who had never taken any responsibility for their actions.[4]

Bombings, kidnappings, and other violent acts

Although the 2 June Movement achieved their greatest feat kidnapping Peter Lorenz, the extremist group's most frequent activity was bombing. On 2 February 1972, the 2 June Movement declared responsibility for a bombing at the British Yacht Club in West Berlin. The attack, which killed the boat's engineer, was later found out to be an act of assistance for the Irish Republican Army. During the trial, which took place in February 1974, 2 June Movement and other extremists started a riot at the court's exterior.[1] On the fifth anniversary of Benno Ohnesorg's death, a bomb exploded in West Berlin. To this day, no group has taken responsibility for the bombing, although it was inferred that attack was the action of 2 June Movement.[2] In West Berlin on 27 July 1973, the 2 June Movement stole 200,000 Deutsch Marks from a local bank.[1] In mid-1974, 2 June Movement member Ulrich Schmücker was shot to death by others in the organization. Although it is not clear what the rationale was for the shooting, Schmücker was believed to be an informant. The opposing argument was that the murder was an accident.[1] After Red Army Faction member Holger Meins died in prison, the 2 June Movement attempted a kidnapping of Superior Court Justice Günter von Drenkmann , who was killed in the process. The effort to kidnap Von Drenkmann was believed to be retaliation for the poor treatment of Meins during his time in prison. Meins and other Red Army Faction members were force-fed during a hunger strike, an action that angered the radical groups of West Berlin. While much of the general public was horrified by the death of the Superior Court Justice, many others believed that the Meins' cruel treatment by security officers was unethical, and justified Von Drenkmann's death.[1]

Kidnapping of Peter Lorenz

Three days before mayoral election in West Berlin in 1975, candidate Peter Lorenz was kidnapped by 2 June Movement members. Lorenz was cornered while on the road, and was thrown into another vehicle after his driver was brutally struck.[1] In an effort to free several imprisoned Red Army Faction and 2 June Movement affiliates, the extremists publicized a photo which showed Lorenz with a sign around his neck that read "Peter Lorenz, prisoner of the 2nd June Movement".[1] The photo also contained a message that demanded the release of Gabriele Kröcher-Tiedemann, Horst Mahler, Ingrid Siepmann, Rolf Heissler, Rolf Pohle, and Verena Becker from prison. Along with the release of these terrorists, 2 June Movement also demanded that a jet be provided to fly the radicals out, and 9,000 German marks should be given to the terrorists. The West German government met their demands, releasing all but Horst Mahler, who did not want to be set free.[5]

Arrests and escapes

Throughout the course of the organization's history, several notable arrests resulted in the imprisonment of 2 June Movement members. Associate Till Meyer was taken into custody after a 29 March 1972 shooting in Bielefeld at which no one was wounded. By December, he was convicted of the attempted murder of a policeman, and imprisoned for three years. Later that June, Bernhard Braun was discovered and arrested for his activity in violent attacks, along with Red Army Faction member Brigitte Mohnhaupt. In 1973, 2 June Movement member Gabi Kröcher-Tiedemann was arrested after shooting a policeman and sentenced to eight years in prison. She was set free in 1975 as a part of the bargain in the Peter Lorenz kidnapping.[1] Within a few months of each other in late 1973, Inge Viett and Till Meyer escaped from prison.[1]

Disbandment

On 2 June 1980, the 2 June Movement disbanded. Some members joined the Red Army Faction.[2]

Members

[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 Huffman, R. "(2011)". Baader-Meinhof.com. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Campana, P.J. "Terrorism in Germany – Outline". I-Web. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  3. ↑ Grimes, W. (7 August 2010). "Fritz Teufel, a German Protester in the '60s, Dies at 67". Retrieved 16 October 2011, The New York Times
  4. ↑ Brown, E. (9 August 2010). "Fritz Teufel, 'fun guerrilla' in German student movement of 1960s, dies at 67". Retrieved 16 October 2011, The Washington Post
  5. ↑ Noe, D. (n.d.). "The Baader Meinhof Gang – The Slaying of Benno Ohnesorg". Retrieved 16 October 2011

External links