Research on RAF

Research the "Rote Armee Fraktion" RAF and provide a second post with your findings of

- the causes

- the three generations of activists

- the end of the RAF

- the similarities between current day's terro attacks and the RAF (similarities and differences)

• The causes:

Red Army Faction was founded in 1970. The group pledged allegiance to communist ideals against capitalist status quo. Baader and other three members set bombs in two department stores in Frankfurt intending to protest the Vietnam War in 1968. Their aim was to escalate the conflict between the state and its opposition, trying to conduct revolutionary across West Germany and Europe.

• The three generations of activist:

There were three generations through 1970 to 1998. The first generation was led by Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof. Later during the 1970s, the RAF was reorganized on the basis of guerrilla, resistance and anti-Imperialist Front. RAF operations were conducted and carried out by RAF commandos. From the 80s to 90s, they were reorganized to their third generation.

• The end of RAF:

On 20 April 1998, RAF sent a typewritten letter and announced that the group RAF had dissolved.

• Similarities:

1. Both use weapons and make lots of attacks
2. Both are very extreme
3. Both make bad impact on society and people
4. Both are well-organized and under leadership
5. Both are not approved by society

• Differences:

1. Terrorists group today killed much more than RAF
2. They have different objectives and goals
3. The causes of their organizations are different
4. RAF did attacks mostly in Germany.
5. RAF was dissolved but some of today’s terrorist groups were not.

Cited:
http://terrorism.about.com/od/groupsleader1/p/RedArmyFaction.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rote_Armee_Fraktion#Background