Thursday, July 2, 2020

Is the RAF Era Over?

The Red Army Faction of Germany....officially on the books having been dissolved 20 April 1998. Is the era truly over?  No.

ARD (German public TV, Channel One) brought up the topic today.  The German federal police have interest in two folks who have never been brought to justice.

Back in early May of this year....police put Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg on the Europol's "Europe's Most Wanted" listing.

Since that point, around a hundred 'tips' have come in.

The two were part of the third generation of RAF 'players'.  Most everyone agrees....the recruitment would deliver people who generally did six to ten years, and then people would burn out (mature-out would be a better term). 

Police can connect the two to a couple of murders in the early 1990s.

So there's this interesting belief....that a number of robberies (most all in northern Germany)....of money-transfer vehicles.....seem to connect to these two guys (with a woman as the third part of the group).  The tactics and method of planning lead the police to think these robbers are the two guys.

The need for the money?  Well, without any DDR political folks around to sponsor them....there is no real retirement fund left to enjoy your old age situation.

Why the connection?  Fingerprints at a robbery vehicle of the two guys (with a RAF female). 

Living in Germany?  Differing opinions.  Some suggest Denmark might be possible.  Spain, France and Italy have been listed as well.  It wouldn't surprise me if the three have a RV camper and do a run up to northern Germany for a robbery or two, then retreat back to Italy. 

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