Baader-Meinhof: The Inside Story of the R.A.F.

Stefan Aust should be praised in writing and compiling this book about the Baader-Meinhof group or the Red Army Faction. They were a radical terrorist organization in West Germany who with the leadership of Andreas Baader and Gundrun Enslin robbed banks, bombed and killed innocent people as well as harmed many more. The group also featured an unlikely tragic heroine, Ulrike Meinhof. If you have seen the movie, you will want to read more about this group in this book. Ulrike was a promising journalist who focused on political issues. She gave up security and a normal life for one on the run with the group, She was a mother of twin daughters who gave up her career to help Andreas Baader escape from jail with the group.The author explains in detail about the group's actions which is not always pleasant to read about. He doesn't defend their actions but seeks to understand why they sought a revolution in their country and the world. They were the children of Hitler's Germany who were raised after the war devastated their country. They were well-read individuals with hundreds of books in their jail cells. After their suicide pact in October 1977 in Stammheim, Germany, people would learn of their communication system and how they snuck in contra bands into their jail cells.Their years on the run inspired a life on the run with the gang like Germany's Bonnie and Clyde. They were largely misguided and unorganized as well. The book details their flaws and faults but also inquires about their histories which led to this life. While they were guilty of such criminal acts, there were motives for it. Ulrike Meinhof was a the journalist who abandoned her career for the group but it was Gundrun Ensslin who was really in charge behind her lover and partner, Andreas Baader. She might have been the unlikely recruit for this organization.The trial and their life in prison is also worth reading especially since they were placed in Stammheim where the film actually was filmed on location. The Baader Meinhof group or Red Army Faction terrified West Germans in the 1960s and 1970s. This book is worth reading because it helps explain German discourse during this time period. The Red Army Faction lasted 28 years from 1970 to 1998.To anybody interested in Germany history, this book is definitely worth reading to grasp the time period and the people who lived in it. I still would have liked to know what happened to those who were in the Red Army Faction and the survivors of Ulrike Meinhof; Gundrun Ensslin; and Andreas Baader and others as well.

Think of Rosa Luxembourg's description of revolution:"I amI wasI shall be"Then think of Ulrike Meinhof's statement, "We don't talk about the weather". Contrast these viewpoints with the mass of people who do nothing to change the world and live, as Thoreau put it- lives of quiet desparation.The B M's (to choose an unfortunate acronym), like Christ, tried to change the world. The only question would be is- did they use a good tactic?I can only conclude along w Aust that they were more "quasi religious than rational political", in that the German people were not about to join them in revolt. But let's give them credit for raising great issues forcefully- and give Aust credit for a spell binding, page turning book- if not sufficiently left for my point of view. One criticism I have is that Aust does not transparently state his point of view. To me, he is not sufficiently Brechtian!Many of the above reviewers seem plodding or either right wing about the Baaders. Maybe it's because they live in a right of center U S of A- chief world imperialist and exporter of terror (thru military adventures and weaponry) to the world.an aside about the film- which persons who enjoyed the book will want to see): it ably delves into the most important issues of the day- now and then- thus, of course, it goes pretty much unwatched and unreviewed. It is beautifully shot and acted (think of the legendary Bruno Ganz' riveting performance); to me this movie is powerful as was Steven Soderberg's "Che" documentary and the movie about Bobby Sands death by starvation in prison at the hands of British imperialism (was it "Hunger"?). The great thing about it is- that, like Brecht plays- it involves you especially if you watch the features. Issues that are not brought up on mainstream media.What issues are raised by the book and the film, you may ask? Let's see- take the number of persons killed by the Baaders (BM) and contrast those killed in Vietnam? or Iraq? I sense a paucity of reasoning amongst most reviewers who put down the Baaders but do not seem to want to put down the state? Who killed more? What system kills more- that of capitalism? or socialism (which has really yet to be tried)?As a believer in the tactics of militant non-violence- and a veteran of the civil right and peace movements- I think- that where the Weather Underground here in the states went right up to the edge of the abyss, the Baaders jumped over. They became the state they protested- using its tactics. But, if you, as it would seem many of the above reviewers, want to support the state- they share far more blame than the Baaders. Contrasted to a Bush- the Baaders are termites next to a trantula.I think there was more in my review- but this seems to be as far as they are letting me go. Ta for now.

A great book. This is how marxism-Leninism meets the nuthouse. And of course, this should happen in Germany, in the 70's. Amazing how the ideals and Utopias from the 60's gradually degenerate into a nonsense violent political movement with a very small number of members, none of them very sane from the head and, at the same time so influential. Those seeds are still blossoming today (black blocs are a good example) with a mix of anarchism, anti capitalism and violence. The book is very well developed, showing depth in research and fluent writing. Some passages are quite thrilling such as the one where the German special troops storm into the hijacked plane in Mogadiscio. It is a pity that the book only covers the RAF "first generation". It would be interesting to learn about its "second generation" and how the group gets captured by the eastern Germans and turns itself into another pawn in the last movements of the Cold War.

Perfect condition and shipped quickly

I was involved in processing the intelligence about these criminal terrorists. When we revealed back to some in the USA what we had found, some anti-American American moles in the Department of Justice and/or Defense reported back through terrorists channels about us. Several months after I departed to go back to Viet Nam in December 1971 for another tour, they set off a car bomb in front of my office killing three of my men. They could only know exactly where to park that bomb from the moles. This book does not identify the moles but it does pinpoint the location of my office when it was not known to the public.

Perfect for those that are fascinated with the Red Army Faction.

Very disappointed with this book - ordered it thinking it would be a more in-depth story of the RAF but it is just exactly the same as his other book "The Baader Meinhof Complex" (which itself was only re-issued in Nov 08 to tie in with the film!!) - will be sending this copy straight back for a refund!!

Fundamental para conocer la génesis y la evolución del complejo Baader-Meinhof, como unos de los policías responsables del caso denominó a esta organización terrorista alemana de extrema izquierda, que protagonizó uno de los episodios más críticos y traumáticos de la historia reciente de Alemania.A complementar con "Los hijos de Hitler", por Jillian Becker.

Meu único desgosto com o livro foi sua impressão. Algumas páginas estavam muito claras, com a impressão das palavras desvanecente e quase apagada.