From the Underground to the Dock: The Daniela Klette Trial Finally Begins
Defendant, ex-RAF Terrorist, Charged for Alleged Funding of Underground Activities - Huge Sums for Underground Activities?
What once was hiding in shadows, now stands boldly in the spotlight.
Verden/Celle - For years, she was known as "Claudia" – a friendly, gray-haired math tutor with a long braid and a dog. But the woman living on the fifth floor of a Kreuzberg apartment was someone else entirely. Daniela Klette, a 66-year-old former RAF terrorist, is now on trial at the Verden Regional Court for her alleged involvement in over a dozen armed robberies that spanned across Germany.
Living a double life, Klette hid her true identity well. Neighbors spoke of her as a regular neighborhood resident, unaware of her stolen identity and the millions she allegedly amassed through her heists. When she wasn't in her apartment helping kids with their multiplication tables, she was reportedly orchestrating meticulously planned bank heists and supermarket robberies with her accomplices, Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg.
The Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office took on the case in a mission to connect the dots, a task that seemed almost impossible at first. In 2015, DNA traces surfaced, leading them to issue an arrest warrant for Klette, Staub, and Garweg. After Klette's arrest, her two alleged accomplices remain at large, part of the RAF's elusive "third generation."
When the curtains finally drew back, the police found an impressive stash of weapons, including assault rifles, explosives, and more. The search also uncovered large sums of cash and numerous fake identities. On March 1, 2025, the trial commenced in Celle, with Klette standing accused of numerous charges, including attempted murder, theft, and breaches of the war weapons control act.
"The evidence against Klette is substantial," insisted the prosecutor, "yet, we still crave answers about her role within the RAF." Klette herself remained defiant, stating her rejection of "capitalism and the patriarchy," alleging the trial is politically motivated.
Klette's estranged accomplices have evaded capture to this day, leaving the city square filled with supporters wearing red and black – the colors of the RAF's flag. The court proceedings are expected to last several years, a testament to a life of secretive rebellion and stealthy ambition.
Key Figures
- Daniela Klette – The 66-year-old former RAF terrorist on trial for her role in over a dozen armed robberies
- Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg – Klette's alleged accomplices, believed to be part of the RAF's "third generation" still active
- Red Army Faction (RAF) – A radical left-wing terrorist organization active in West Germany from the 1970s to the 1980s, known for bombings, kidnappings, and attacks on political targets
[1] Klette Trial Unravels a Decade of Robberies, Der Spiegel, March 1, 2025
[2] The Unmasking of Daniela Klette – A RAF Terrorist Hiding in Plain Sight, The Guardian, March 1, 2025
EC countries, with their policies of free movement of workers, enable individuals like Daniela Klette to disappear and reappear with various identities.The freedom to provide services, such as tutoring, provided Klette with a cover while she was leading a double life as an RAF terrorist.*The investigation into Klette's alleged criminal activities required the application of various advanced forensic techniques to unmask her, reminiscent of the challenges faced in the digital age in certain cities like Schleswig and Verden.
