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.

Reforming the universities

To support its new economic policies the government wanted to change the universities, producing graduates faster by introducing a time limit on courses and limiting the number of students. The students, however, did not want to adjust to the needs of the economy and the government. In fact, they wanted to adjust the universities to their own needs. They wanted more rights in the running of universities, better-equipped workplaces and the expelling of the professors who had been active during the Nazi period. The university boards did not react to the students protest and introduced the time limit for studying.

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When this time limit was introduced at the Free University of Berlin during the summer holidays of 1966 the students were not there so were unable to protest against it; instead, the first big sit-in of the German student movement happened when they returned after the holidays, with about 4000 participants. The events at the Free University of Berlin can bee seen as representative of the events at all universities in Germany because the same events were repeated elsewhere a short time later.

Related Topics:
Free University of Berlin - 1966

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