The events of the German Autumn were marked by intense political radicalism and violence in West Germany. The Red Army Faction, a far-left militant organization, was responsible for a series of kidnappings and attacks aimed at overthrowing the government. Hanns Martin Schleyer, the president of the German employer's association, was kidnapped on September 5, 1977, as part of a larger scheme to secure the release of imprisoned RAF members. The RAF's actions were a desperate cry for attention and a means to instigate social revolution. Alongside Schleyer's kidnapping, the RAF also executed a high-profile hijacking of Lufthansa Flight 181, seizing the aircraft and endangering the lives of numerous passengers and crew.Negotiations surrounding Schleyer’s ransom fell apart, leading to the more violent resolution of this crisis. On October 18, 1977, after diplomatic efforts failed, Schleyer was murdered by his captors in a manner that demonstrated the RAF's ruthless commitment to their cause. The same day, RAF members involved in the Lufthansa hijacking were reported to have committed suicide in a Berlin location, further amplifying the horror of this situation. The public reacted with shock and outrage, leading to increased governmental measures against terrorism and a rise in support for more severe anti-terror laws. This painful chapter in German history was a stark reminder of the lengths to which political extremism could lead individuals and groups.