Assassination of Siegfried Buback in Berlin
Siegfried Buback, the German Federal prosecutor, and his driver were ambushed and shot by two members of the Red Army Faction while they were stopped at a red light in West Berlin. The attack occurred mid-afternoon, highlighting the ongoing violence associated with the far-left extremist group that sought to advance its revolutionary agenda through acts of terror.
Buback was a key figure in West German law.
The RAF aimed to incite revolutionary change.
The assassination sparked national security debates.
It marked a peak in leftist violent extremism.
What Happened?
Siegfried Buback, serving as the Federal prosecutor in West Germany, was a significant target for the Red Army Faction (RAF), a leftist militant group known for their violent opposition to the West German state and its institutions. On a sunny spring day, Buback was driving in his official car with his driver, when they halted at a traffic signal in Berlin. It was then that two armed members of the RAF approached the vehicle on a motorcycle and opened fire, killing both Buback and his driver instantly. This brazen execution marked a notable escalation in the RAF's campaign of violence, which had been aimed at government officials and symbolic figures of the West German state. The attack was part of a prolonged period of terror and political assassinations that characterized the years of lead in West Germany.
Why Does it Matter?
The assassination of Siegfried Buback had a profound impact on German society and politics. It underscored the threat posed by the Red Army Faction and emphasized the government's struggle to maintain order amidst a rising tide of leftist extremism. Furthermore, Buback's murder sparked a nationwide introspection and debate on the nature and tactics of revolutionary violence, shaping public perception of both the RAF and the state's response to domestic terrorism. This event contributed to the justification of stringent measures against suspected terrorists.