German embassy infiltrated 50 years ago by RAF militants
Taking Hostages at the German Embassy in Stockholm by the Red Army Faction - 50 Years Later, a Memorial Plaque Honors the Despicable Act
Fifty years after a horrific act of violence, a new memorial plaque honors the terror committed by the hard-line extremist group, Red Army Faction (RAF), at the German Embassy in Stockholm.
German Ambassador to Sweden, Christina Beinhoff, described the site as one of the most appalling incidents of violence in the history of German-Swedish relations during the unveiling ceremony.
On April 24, 1975, a band of RAF fanatics launched a brutal assault on the German Embassy in Stockholm. They kidnapped twelve hapless diplomats and callously eliminated two of their counterparts. Another embassy staffer succumbed to the fallout years down the line. Insult was added to injury as several individuals were injured, some severely, when the explosives carried by the monstrous attackers detonated within the embassy building.
Piteous pleas for help from the embassy windows
Eventually, the hostages were safely released, and the hostage-takers were apprehended. Two of the attackers suffered injuries in the explosion and later succumbed to their wounds. The surviving hostage-takers received lengthy prison sentences. The Stockholm operation aimed to secure the release of 26 imprisoned RAF members, but the German government led by Chancellor Helmut Schmidt (SPD) stubbornly refused their demand.
During the Stockholm memorial service, Dag Hartelius, State Secretary in the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reflected upon the events fifty years prior. "As many of my fellow countrymen back then, I remember tuning in to the radio and television as the drama unfolded. I still recall the pathetic, heart-wrenching cries for help that echoed from one of the embassy's windows," said Hartelius. The relentless barbarity exhibited by the terrorists left an indelible mark on the nation.
In 1998, the RAF formally disbanded. At least 30 people had lost their lives in attacks orchestrated by the group since 1970.
Looking Back at the RAF's Attack on the German Embassy in Stockholm
The Stockholm attack represented a drastic escalation in the Red Army Faction's militant campaign. Six RAF-aligned members stormed the embassy, took hostages, and demanded the release of imprisoned RAF leaders, such as Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof[1]. When their demands were met with resistance, the attackers detonated explosives, leading to the demise of two hostages.
Impact and Aftermath
Security Measures: With the Stockholm attack, Germany intensified its counterterrorism effort. RAF prisoners were housed in high-security facilities, such as Stammheim Prison, which was equipped with steel mesh, floodlights, and an armed force. Inmates were isolated, communications were monitored, and visits were heavily regulated[1].
Questionable Legal Proceedings: The RAF's trials attracted media scrutiny due to the stringent security measures, with critics arguing that the measures compromised the fairness of the trial. Some media outlets, like The Times and Der Spiegel, insisted the trial became a 'state of exception[1].'
Ideological Influence: Former RAF members like Karl-Heinz Dellwo, a key player in the Stockholm siege, continue to symbolize the movement. Recent controversies, such as Dellwo's 2025 appearance at an Austrian taxpayer-funded festival, sparked renewed debates on justifying left-wing extremism[3].
The RAF's assault on the West German Embassy in Stockholm highlighted the group's strategy of targeting state symbols in order to provoke a militaristic response, exacerbating tensions surrounding civil liberties and national security in West Germany.
Significant milestones marked the dissolution of the Red Army Faction (RAF) in 1998, following over two decades of terror-filled activities that claimed at least 30 lives, including the infamous hostage crisis at the German Embassy in Stockholm in 1975.
During the siege, the swedish State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dag Hartelius, recalled the emotional distress as he listened to the pitiful cries for help that came from the embassy windows.
Politics and general-news outlets worldwide covered the aftermath of the hostage crisis, questioning the legal proceedings of the RAF trials, which were argued to have compromised fairness due to excessive security measures.
Though RAF formally disbanded in 1998, their legacy lingers, as the memoirs and appearances of former members, like Karl-Heinz Dellwo, continue to be subjects of debate and controversy – most recently when he appeared at an Austrian taxpayer-funded festival in 2025.
