A prominent German lawyer and politician who served as Attorney General, known for his strong stance against left-wing terrorism in the 1970s. He was assassinated in 1977, sparking widespread outrage and a national crisis.
Siegfried Buback, the Attorney General of West Germany from 1974 to 1977, is infamously known for being the first assassination victim of the Red Army Faction (RAF), a militant left-wing organization, during the German Autumn of the 1970s. His name is synonymous with the tumultuous era of West German politics, marked by ideological clashes and violent extremism.
Born on January 3, 1920, in Wilsdruff, Saxony, Buback's early life was marked by controversy. From 1940 to 1945, he was a member of the Nazi Party and served as a soldier in World War II. After the war, he was imprisoned in France as a prisoner of war from 1945 to 1947.
Upon his return to Germany, Buback pursued a career in law, studying at the University of Leipzig. He became an attorney in 1953 and worked as a general attorney until 1972. During this period, he made headlines in 1962 for accusing the political magazine Der Spiegel of high treason, leading to the notorious Spiegel scandal.
The Spiegel scandal marked a significant turning point in Buback's career. The case led to a landmark ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany, which established the importance of press freedom in the country. Buback's actions, though controversial, contributed to a crucial milestone in West Germany's political development.
In the 1970s, Buback became a vocal opponent of the Red Army Faction (RAF), a left-wing extremist organization. His outspoken stance made him a target for the group, which was determined to overthrow the West German government.
The RAF's violent campaign, known as the German Autumn, claimed numerous lives, including Buback's. On April 7, 1977, he was assassinated while traveling to the Bundesgerichtshof in Karlsruhe. The murder, carried out by RAF members, shocked the nation and marked the beginning of a tumultuous period in West German history.
The assassination of Buback, along with his driver Wolfgang Göbel and judicial officer Georg Wurster, was a meticulously planned attack. Two RAF members, riding a Suzuki GS 750 motorcycle, stopped at a traffic light alongside Buback's Mercedes 230.6. One of the perpetrators fired 15 shots with a semi-automatic HK43 rifle, killing Buback and Göbel instantly. Wurster died six days later from his injuries.
Four RAF members, including Christian Klar, Knut Folkerts, Günter Sonnenberg, and Brigitte Mohnhaupt, were formally charged and prosecuted in connection with the Buback murder. However, key details of their involvement remain unsolved, leaving many questions unanswered about the exact circumstances of the assassination.
Siegfried Buback's life and career were marked by controversy and tragedy. His assassination served as a catalyst for the German Autumn, a period of intense social unrest and political upheaval in West Germany. Though his actions were often divisive, Buback's contributions to the country's legal and political landscape cannot be ignored.
In the decades following his death, Buback's legacy has continued to evoke strong emotions and spark debates about the role of the state in combating extremism. His story serves as a poignant reminder of the delicacy of democracy and the importance of upholding the rule of law in the face of political adversity.
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