Detailed Study Notes on Urban Guerrilla Movements

Chronology of Events

• Till Meyer and Andreas Vogel Trial:

  • June 2nd members on trial for bank robberies and the von Drenkmann and Lorenz actions.

  • A guard secures Vogel in a cell.

  • Two women and Meyer shoot a hostage guard in the leg.

  • They force the guards to open the gates and escape, observed by several passing police patrols.

Chapter One: How It All Began

• Bommi Baumann's Personal Account (1975)

  • Describes his transition from a normal person to being involved in urban guerrilla activities.

  • Background:

  • Moved from East Germany to West Germany around age twelve.

  • Experienced disruptions in education due to frequent relocations.

  • Began apprenticeship as a construction worker but afterwards took various odd jobs until 1965.

  • Influences:

  • Growth into a non-conformist identity influenced by rock music and the counterculture of the 60s.

  • Important figures and bands included the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Byrds, and blues musicians like John Lee Hooker.

  • Key locations in Berlin for youth culture included hippy joints like Gammlertreffen and Gedächtniskirche.

  • Early experiences with discrimination for having long hair and non-conformist appearances.

Identity and Isolation

• Baumann discusses:

  • Initial Identity Struggles:

  • Feeling ostracized and compared to marginalized communities (e.g., Blacks, Jews).

  • Long hair became a symbol of rebellion and self-identity, leading to a healthy narcissism for survival.

  • Entrepreneurial Experiences:

  • Work and social life in a working-class suburb that felt isolating and troublesome.

  • Encountering friction with conformist peers and building relationships with fellow dropouts.

  • Cultural Awakening:

  • Exploring literature from authors like Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Sartre, and Jack London, which contributed to his understanding of rebellion and societal issues.

Political Evolution

• Emergence of the Movement (1964-1965):

  • Describes the growth of the counterculture and student movements in Europe fueled by media coverage.

  • Mentions earlier influences and iconic figures.

  • Transition from bohemian exclusivity to a broader participation of ordinary people.

Engagement with Politics

• Personal Path to Activism:

  • Baumann reflects on his first political engagement via the S.D.S. (Socialist German Students) in 1966, emphasizing a desire to develop intellectual potentials.

  • Initial experience within communes (like K.1) bridging counterculture and political movements.

  • Engagement with revolutionary ideas and practices, leading to acceptance of violence as a political means.

  • Highlights influencers and theorists such as Che Guevara and the significance of propaganda in social movements.

Chapter Two: It Becomes Political - 1966 to 1968

• Condensed Transition into Political Activism:

  • His movement into the S.D.S. and growing desire for political expression.

  • Cultural experiences led to communal living offers profound shifts in personal identity and social dynamics.

• Internal Commune Dynamics:

  • Conflicts between the political and cultural orientations, moments of psychological introspection contrasting with active resistance.

  • Collective efforts in assessing internal behaviors and their implications.

  • Planning and executing protests against institutional oppression, echoed by the significance of media coverage in social actions.

Chapter Three: Easter '68

• Impact of Violence Due to Political Tensions:

  • The assassination of Benno Ohnesorg catalyzed profound reactions among counterculture circles.

  • Celebrates the communal spirit infused by Rudi Dutschke's attempts and subsequent street actions following the attempted assassination.

  • Discusses phenomena of spontaneous action and collective mobilization that marked Frankfurt's protests.

Chapter Four: The Wieland Commune

• Formation and Dynamics of the Commune:

  • Describes the shift in activism and the evolution to a more organized communal living experience.

  • Embedding the concept of social rebellion through a shared ideological framework, contributing to an intensified focus on practical applications of political theory.

  • Struggles within the collective context observed, leading to setbacks as behavioral discrepancies arose.

Chapter Five: The Hash Rebellion

• Cultural Shift toward Drug Use in Political Context:

  • Introduction of drug culture into political movements as a tool for deeper connection and dialogue.

  • Manifestation of forms of collective rebellion including the Hash Rebels advocating against established norms.

Here are bullet points explaining the connection between the thesis and the notes:

• Youthful Non-conformism and Influences:

  • The notes detail Bommi Baumann's early life, moving from East to West Germany, and his disruptive education, setting the stage for his non-conformist identity.

  • His influences, such as rock music (Beatles, Rolling Stones) and counterculture literature (Ginsberg, Kerouac, Sartre), are explicitly mentioned as shaping his rebellion against societal norms.

  • Discrimination for long hair and non-conformist appearance highlights initial identity struggles and a sense of isolation.

• Transition to Radicalized Political Movements:

  • Baumann's engagement with the S.D.S. (Socialist German Students) in 1966 marks his formal entry into political activism, driven by a desire for intellectual and political expression

thesis statement

These notes trace the evolution of Bommi Baumann and the West German counterculture from youthful non-conformism, shaped by influences like rock music and alternative literature, into radicalized political movements that, through communal living and escalating political tensions, ultimately embraced violence as a legitimate means of achieving social change.