2 June Movement

2 June Movement
Bewegung 2. Juni
LeaderFritz Teufel
Dates of operation1972–1980
Dissolved2 June 1980
Merged intoRed Army Faction
Active regionsWest Berlin
IdeologyAnarchism
Autonomism
Political positionFar-left
Major actionsMurder
Kidnapping
Assault of enforcement officers
Causing explosion
Aggravated theft
Notable attacksKidnapping of Peter Lorenz (1975)
AlliesRed Army Faction Irish Republican Army
OpponentsWest Berlin Police

The 2 June Movement (German: Bewegung 2. Juni) was a West German anarchist militant group based in West Berlin. Active from January 1972 to 1980, the anarchist group was one of the few militant groups at the time in Germany. Although the 2 June Movement did not share the same ideology as the Red Army Faction (Baader-Meinhof Gang), these organizations were allies. The 2 June Movement did not establish as much influence in Germany as their Marxist counterparts, and is best known for kidnapping West Berlin mayoral candidate Peter Lorenz.[1]

Rising from the ashes of political group Kommune 1 and militant group Tupamaros West-Berlin, the 2 June Movement was formed in July 1971. During the trial of Thomas Weissbecker, Michael Baumann, and Georg von Rauch for an assault on Horst Rieck [de], Baumann and Weissbecker were ordered to be released on bail. When the release was announced, Rauch, who was facing a probable ten-year sentence for other charges, pretended to be Weissbecker, and left the courtroom with Baumann. The two immediately went underground. Once Weissbecker revealed his identity, he was released from custody. Following their escape, the 2 June Movement was formed.[2]

In contrast to the Red Army Faction (RAF), the 2 June Movement was anarchist rather than Marxist. The organization derived its name from the date that German university student Benno Ohnesorg was shot by West Berlin Police officer Karl-Heinz Kurras[3] while participating in a protest against the Shah of Iran Mohammed Reza Pahlavi's state visit to Germany, as the demonstrators were attacked by the police. His death ignited the left-wing movement in West Germany, influencing politicians and political activists, and leading to the establishment of violent non-state actors. Although the organization never became as notorious as the RAF, the 2 June Movement was the most prominent in the first phase of German leftist post-World War II militarism.[1]

Fritz Teufel
Fritz Teufel pictured (left)
  1. ^ a b Huffman, R. "(2011)". Baader-Meinhof.com. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  2. ^ Baumann, Bommi (1977). How It All Began:The Personal Account of a West German Urban Guerrilla. Arsenal. ISBN 9780889780453.
  3. ^ "Bewegung 2. Juni/Movement 2 June | Mapping Militant Organizations". web.stanford.edu. Retrieved 26 February 2019.