German student movement

The German student movement was a protest movement that took place during the late 1960s in Germany. It was largely a reaction against the perceived authoritarianism and hypocrisy of the German government and other Western governments, and the poor living conditions of students. A wave of protests - some violent - swept Germany, fueled by over-reaction by the police and encouraged by contemporary protest movements across the world. Following more than a century of conservatism among German students, the German student movement also marked a significant major shift to the left and radicalisation of student politics.

Action and reaction

By the year 1966 the number of students which were interested in the conflict between the students and the authorities had increased. Many of those who had not been interested before became at least passively interested by now. This newly-formed public took part in the demonstrations, sit-ins and other protest actions arranged by the students and their organizations (e.g. the Sozialistischer Deutscher Studentenbund).

Related Topics:
1966 - Sit-in - Sozialistischer Deutscher Studentenbund

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The reactions to this increasing unrest among the students were very superficial, sometimes even aggressive. The government tried to fight the situation by decreasing the funds for universities and student organizations and by agitating the public against the students with help of the press. The public opinion that students should study and not demonstrate became even more aggressive. The students got to feel this new aggression during their increasingly violent encounters with the police during demonstrations. But the more pressure the government and the public put on the students, the more the students would stick together.

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On June 2nd 1967 the conflict would finally escalate. Students had organized demonstrations against the official visit by the Shah of Iran because in their opinion the German government was demonstrating a positive attitude towards a dictatorial government that was suppressing and torturing its own people.

Related Topics:
June 2 - 1967 - Shah of Iran - Dictatorial

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During the first demonstration in front of the Opera House which the Shah was visiting it happened. While the police of Berlin and the Iranian service were attacking and hunting down the protestors the student Benno Ohnesorg was shot in the head from behind by Polizeiobermeister Karl-Heinz Kurras and killed.

Related Topics:
Opera House - Berlin - Iran - Benno Ohnesorg

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The following days saw many demonstrations throughout the whole republic against police brutality. The students in Berlin, however, were anxious and in a desperate situation. The police was preventing them with brute force from gathering in public, the universities had submitted their authority to the government and the press wrote that the students were the brutal and aggressive component of the demonstrations and that they had provoked the death of Benno Ohnesorg. Even though there were some students groups supporting the idea of a violent revolution the protesting students were mostly peaceful.

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For the following days the students took over control of the Free University of Berlin. Finally being able to meet again, they used the time to discuss and reflect on the events of the past days.

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