The Killing of Benno Ohnesorg

Summary

History Daily: The Killing of Benno Ohnesorg

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode of History Daily, host Lindsay Graham delves into the tragic and pivotal event of June 2, 1967—the killing of Benno Ohnesorg in West Berlin. Graham meticulously unpacks the incident, the ensuing trial, the widespread public outrage, and the long-hidden truths that emerged decades later, reshaping the historical narrative of modern Germany.

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1. The Fateful Day: June 2, 1967

The episode opens with a vivid recounting of the events at the German Opera House in West Berlin. A young female student joins a crowd protesting the attendance of Iran’s Mohammad Reza Shah, whose government is infamous for its human rights abuses.

Lindsey Graham [00:26]: "Dusk on June 2, 1967, outside the German Opera House in West Berlin."

As tensions escalate, the protesters express their anger by hurling tomatoes and eggs at the visiting Shah and his wife. The situation spirals out of control when police officers, exhibiting sudden aggression, start pushing back the demonstrators with batons.

In the chaos, the young student becomes separated from her group and seeks refuge in an underground parking lot. It is here that the tragedy unfolds.

Lindsey Graham [01:19]: "She sees a young man lying on the ground. Blood pools around his head and standing over him, a police officer grips his pistol."

The victim is Benno Ohnesorg, a 26-year-old student attending his first protest. Ohnesorg is fatally shot, but his death initially remains shrouded in mystery and controversy.

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2. The Trial of Karl Heinz Koras

Five months after Ohnesorg’s death, on November 21, 1967, Karl Heinz Koras, the policeman accused of the shooting, stands trial in a West Berlin courtroom.

Lindsey Graham [05:08]: "In a West Berlin courtroom five months after the death of Benno Ohnesorg, 39-year-old Karl Heinz Koras sits up straight."

Despite significant public outcry, the trial is fraught with issues. Koras claims he was attacked by protesters and fired a warning shot in self-defense.

Lindsey Graham [05:37]: "In his own testimony, Karl Heinz claimed to have been knocked down and beaten by 10 or 11 people at the protest."

However, the prosecution's case is severely weakened by missing evidence: the critical piece of Ohnesorg's skull containing the gunshot wound vanishes, the pistol magazine is never found, and Koras's uniform is inexplicably dry-cleaned before his arrest.

Lindsey Graham [06:08]: "All of this has led to rampant speculation in the press."

Ultimately, citing lack of evidence, the judge acquits Koras of murder, convicting him only of negligent homicide. The demotion from police intelligence to a local investigations department is seen by many as a mere formality, fueling further public distrust.

Lindsey Graham [06:35]: "Citing a lack of evidence, he issues a verdict of not guilty."

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3. Public Outrage and the Birth of Militant Movements

The acquittal sparks widespread suspicion of a state cover-up. Many believe that the police deliberately misplaced evidence to protect Koras and, by extension, the establishment.

Lindsey Graham [07:16]: "Several suspect a state cover-up that Benno was murdered by the police and the authorities then deliberately misplaced the evidence."

Protests intensify, with rallies demanding justice for Ohnesorg. The young generation, disillusioned with the remnants of Germany’s authoritarian past, increasingly joins groups like the Socialist German Students Union (SDS), advocating for deeper societal reforms.

Lindsey Graham [07:42]: "But many students see the West Berlin police force as a dangerous relic of the country's past."

This unrest paves the way for the emergence of militant left-wing groups, notably the Red Army Faction (RAF) and the 2nd of June Movement, which name themselves after the date of Ohnesorg's killing. These groups adopt violent tactics, including bombings and kidnappings, viewing such actions as legitimate forms of resistance.

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4. The Kidnapping of Peter Lawrence

On February 27, 1975, a dramatic incident unfolds as Peter Lawrence, a prominent politician poised to become West Berlin's first Conservative mayor in two decades, is kidnapped by the 2nd of June Movement.

Lindsey Graham [11:40]: "It's just before 9am on February 27, 1975, in West Berlin... Peter is poised to become West Berlin's first Conservative mayor in 20 years."

Lawrence is abducted and held hostage with a ransom demand: the release of six imprisoned anarchists. The kidnappers seek to use Lawrence's position to further their agenda against the government, linking their actions back to the unresolved tensions from Ohnesorg's death.

The situation reaches a climax when, coinciding with the West Berlin elections, Lawrence is released unharmed after the government complies with the kidnappers' demands, highlighting the profound and lasting impact of Ohnesorg's assassination on German politics and society.

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5. Decades-Later Revelations: Unveiling the Truth

Fast forward to May 23, 2009, forty years after Ohnesorg's death. Karl Heinz Koras, now retired, faces renewed scrutiny as his name resurfaces in newspaper headlines.

Lindsey Graham [17:29]: "Now 81, Karl Heinz Koras walks slowly to the store entrance. He's on his way to pick up more beer."

Historical documents reveal that Koras was not merely a rogue policeman but an undercover agent for the East German secret police, the Stasi. This revelation suggests that his actions on June 2, 1967, were influenced by his allegiance to socialist ideologies rather than the fascist tendencies previously assumed.

Lindsey Graham [18:09]: "Historians have now uncovered documents revealing that Karl Heinz was actually an undercover spy for the Communists."

This new perspective challenges longstanding beliefs about the nature of Ohnesorg's killing and the motivations behind it, indicating that the incident was less about persisting fascist elements and more about Cold War-era political machinations.

Koras's silence until his death in 2014 leaves the true circumstances of the shooting in ambiguity, ensuring that debates and questions about that fateful day continue to resonate in Germany's collective memory.

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6. Legacy and Continuing Questions

The killing of Benno Ohnesorg remains a watershed moment in German history, symbolizing the clash between youth movements and a government perceived as outdated and oppressive. The subsequent rise of militant groups and the eventual revelation of Koras's true affiliations highlight the complex interplay of political ideologies during the Cold War era.

Lindsey Graham [19:05]: "The revelation that Benno's killer was inspired by socialism and not fascism upset all preconceptions about the case."

This episode underscores the enduring impact of Ohnesorg's death on Germany's path towards democracy and human rights, while also illustrating how historical truths can remain obscured for decades, only to resurface and redefine our understanding of the past.

Lindsey Graham [19:27]: "The revelation ensures that for years to come, questions will continue to be asked about what really happened and why a young student was gunned down in a Berlin protest."

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Conclusion

History Daily provides a comprehensive exploration of Benno Ohnesorg's assassination, weaving together eyewitness accounts, trial proceedings, public reactions, and historical revelations. Through Lindsay Graham's narration, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of how a single event can ignite widespread social movements and leave a lasting imprint on a nation's history.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Lindsey Graham [00:26]: "Dusk on June 2, 1967, outside the German Opera House in West Berlin."

• Lindsey Graham [05:08]: "In a West Berlin courtroom five months after the death of Benno Ohnesorg, 39-year-old Karl Heinz Koras sits up straight."

• Lindsey Graham [06:35]: "Citing a lack of evidence, he issues a verdict of not guilty."

• Lindsey Graham [07:16]: "Several suspect a state cover-up that Benno was murdered by the police and the authorities then deliberately misplaced the evidence."

• Lindsey Graham [11:40]: "It's just before 9am on February 27, 1975, in West Berlin... Peter is poised to become West Berlin's first Conservative mayor in 20 years."

• Lindsey Graham [17:29]: "Now 81, Karl Heinz Koras walks slowly to the store entrance. He's on his way to pick up more beer."

• Lindsey Graham [18:09]: "Historians have now uncovered documents revealing that Karl Heinz was actually an undercover spy for the Communists."

• Lindsey Graham [19:05]: "The revelation that Benno's killer was inspired by socialism and not fascism upset all preconceptions about the case."

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Credits

History Daily is brought to life by a dedicated team including Lindsey Graham (Host), Angus Gavin Nicard (Writer and Researcher), Joel Cowan (Editor), Emily Burke (Managing Producer), and executive producers William Simpson (Airship) and Pascal Hughes (Noiser).

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Lindsey Graham]

Dusk on June 2, 1967, outside the.

[Narrator]

German Opera House in West Berlin.

[Lindsey Graham]

Behind a police barrier, a young female student stands among a crowd of angry protesters. They're demonstrating against the leader of Iran, Mohammad Reza Shah, who's been invited to.

[Narrator]

Attend tonight's performance of Mozart's the Magic.

[Lindsey Graham]

Flute despite his government's notorious record on human rights. Young Student spots a black Mercedes pull.

[Narrator]

Up in front of the entrance.

[Lindsey Graham]

Shoulder to shoulder with other protesters, she joins the rising chant of Murderer and as security agents surround the car and.

[Narrator]

Usher the Shah and his wife toward.

[Lindsey Graham]

The opera house, roaring in anger, the protesters fling tomatoes and eggs at them. But the couple soon disappear inside, and that seems to be a cue for the police outside to advance the officers. Aggression is sudden and shocking. Swinging their batons, they force the demonstrators back from the opera house. Frightened, the young woman looks around, but suddenly the friends she came with are nowhere to be seen.

[Narrator]

She tried to find a way out.

[Lindsey Graham]

But she realizes she's trapped like everyone else. Her only escape is to an underground.

[Narrator]

Parking lot beneath a nearby building. All around her is chaos.

[Lindsey Graham]

The student is jostled by fleeing protesters. She stumbles, hitting the side of a car and falls to the ground. People trip and vault over her and she struggles to get back to her feet. She manages to rise into a crouch and is frantically searching for somewhere else to hide when the crack of a gunshot reverberates to the parking lot. Terrified, the student looks around her and then sees a young man lying on the ground. Blood pools around his head and standing over him, a police officer grips his pistol, a trail of smoke still rising from the barrel. The young student looks back to the.

[Narrator]

Man lying on the concrete.

[Lindsey Graham]

He doesn't look much older than she is, and if she had to guess, the wound he suffered looks like a fatal one. 26 year old Benno one will die before he can make it to a hospital. The student husband and soon to be father was attending his first protest when he was gunned down. But in a time of espionage and injury, Benno's killer will hide a crucial secret for decades. And when the truth finally comes out.

[Narrator]

It will change forever the way Germans remember this fatal shooting on June 2, 1967. History Daily is sponsored by a truby. Lately you may have been hearing about a serious but rare heart condition called attr, Cardiac Amyloidosis or attrcm. Because symptoms can be similar to other heart conditions, it may take time to be diagnosed, but learning more about ATTRCM and a treatment called atRuby, also called acharamidus, could be important for you or a loved one. Atrubi is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with ATTRCM to reduce death and hospitalization due to heart issues. In one study, people taking a truby saw an impact on their health related quality of life and 50% fewer hospitalizations due to heart issues than people who didn't take a truby, giving you more chances to do what you love with who you love. Tell your doctor if you're pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding and about the medications you take. The most common side effects were mild and included diarrhea and abdominal pain. If you have attrcm, talk to your cardiologist about a Truby or visit attruby.com that's a T T R U B-Y dot com to learn more.

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[Lindsey Graham]

From Noiser and Airship I'm Lindsey Graham and this is history.

[History Daily Host]

Daily.

[Lindsey Graham]

History is made every day on this podcast. Every day we tell the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world. Today is June 2, 1967 the killing of Benno Onensork.

[Narrator]

It's November 21, 1967.

[Lindsey Graham]

In a West Berlin courtroom five months after the death of Benno Onessorck, 39 year old Karl Heinz Koras sits up.

[Narrator]

Straight, adjusting the sleeves of his dark suit.

[Lindsey Graham]

He was the policeman who shot Benno Onitsork and this is his trial. He's not been charged with murder though.

[Narrator]

But with negligent homicide causing death by disregarding the safety of others.

[Lindsey Graham]

By now the trial is nearly over. All that remains is for the judge.

[Narrator]

To deliver his verdict.

[Lindsey Graham]

Over the past few weeks, many people.

[Narrator]

Have testified about the day of the shooting.

[Lindsey Graham]

In his own testimony, Carl Heinz claimed to have been knocked down and beaten.

[Narrator]

By 10 or 11 people at the protest.

[Lindsey Graham]

He also said that two young men had threatened him with knives, which prompted.

[Narrator]

Him to fire a warning shot.

[Lindsey Graham]

He claimed this bullet must have been.

[Narrator]

The one that hit Benno. There were no eyewitnesses who could corroborate Karl Heinz's account.

[Lindsey Graham]

But there was also no one to.

[Narrator]

Contradict his story either.

[Lindsey Graham]

This is typical of the problems the prosecution has faced in the trial. Their case has been plagued by missing evidence.

[Narrator]

The piece of Benno's skull that contained the gunshot wound mysteriously vanished.

[Lindsey Graham]

The pistol magazine was never found.

[Narrator]

And even Karl Heinz's uniform was conveniently dry cleaned before his arrest.

[Lindsey Graham]

All of this has led to rampant speculation in the press. And when the judge arrives, he hushes a cluster of journalists who are whispering.

[Narrator]

To each other in the gallery. All of these reporters are eager to.

[Lindsey Graham]

Hear the verdict of one of the biggest cases West Germany has seen in years. So they quickly fall quiet.

[Narrator]

Then the judge begins speaking.

[Lindsey Graham]

Citing a lack of evidence, he issues a verdict of not guilty. A very relieved Karl Heinz smiles at his lawyer. Because he's a free man, Karl Heinz.

[Narrator]

Koras might have escaped a prison term, but he doesn't get off entirely scot free. Following his acquittal, he is demoted from.

[Lindsey Graham]

Police intelligence to a local investigations department. But that's seen by many as just a slap on the wrist. And it only deepens the anger felt.

[Narrator]

By many people throughout West Germany.

[Lindsey Graham]

Several suspect a state cover up that Benno was murdered by the police and the authorities then deliberately misplaced the evidence. And at rallies across the country, young protesters claim the killing was a warning.

[Narrator]

To anyone who attempts to question the German government.

[Lindsey Graham]

They say their country now welcomes brutal dictators like the Shah with open arms, but guns down those brave enough to object.

[Narrator]

These students have not forgotten their nation's history. After World War II, the Allied powers agreed to divide and occupy a defeated.

[Lindsey Graham]

Nazi Germany to prevent the country from ever becoming powerful enough to threaten Europe again. That has led to the creation of.

[Narrator]

East and West Germany.

[Lindsey Graham]

But many students see the West Berlin.

[Narrator]

Police force as a dangerous relic of the country's past. More than 50% of its officers fought.

[Lindsey Graham]

For the Nazis during the war, and.

[Narrator]

They are still notorious for their anti.

[Lindsey Graham]

Communist and anti Semitic attitudes.

[Narrator]

So more and more students in West Germany flock to protest groups like the Socialist German Students Union, or sds.

[Lindsey Graham]

These organizations are unified by disillusionment with the status quo and a desire for justice for Benno Onesork. With the public's strong support for their cause, the Onenesorg family launches a legal appeal over Benno's death. In 1970, Karl Heinz Koras is once.

[Narrator]

Again forced to stand trial over the incident.

[Lindsey Graham]

The onenessorg's lawyer argues that the original trial was severely flawed and did not consider all the available evidence. Still, the second trial ends the same.

[Narrator]

Way as the first.

[Lindsey Graham]

Karl Heinz is acquitted once again. Following this verdict, some formally peaceful protesters start to see violence as a legitimate form of resistance. In this new, more extreme form of rebellion, militant left wing groups like the.

[Narrator]

Red Army Faction begin to emerge.

[Lindsey Graham]

Their methods of urban guerrilla warfare include bombing department stores and robbing banks to finance their activities. One group of young anarchists even call themselves the 2nd of June Movement, naming themselves after the date Benno Onenesorg was killed. But though Benno's death is central to their identity, their mission goes far beyond.

[Narrator]

Fighting for justice for him.

[Lindsey Graham]

The group is also committed to taking.

[Narrator]

Broader revenge against their government at large.

[Lindsey Graham]

And in 1975, their agenda will culminate.

[Narrator]

In the most daring kidnapping in West German history. History Daily is sponsored by Indeed. Are you a business owner? I am. I run a podcast production company. And what's my number one expense? My people. But what's my number one competitive advantage? My people. And that makes any new hire my number one most critical business decision. It probably is for you too. So remember this when it comes to hiring, Indeed is all you need. Stop struggling to get your job posts.

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[Lindsey Graham]

It's just before 9am on February 27, 1975, in West Berlin, more than seven years after the shooting of Benno Onenesorg. Peter Lawrence, a tall and slender politician with thick rimmed glasses, gazes out of his black Mercedes, watching the bare trees.

[Narrator]

That line the street flick by the window.

[Lindsey Graham]

West Berlin's elections are just three days away, and Peter is poised to become.

[Narrator]

The city's first Conservative mayor in 20 years. But Peter's attention is dragged away from.

[Lindsey Graham]

The car window when a 4 ton truck pulls into the intersection right in front of them. Peter's driver slams on the brake, jolting.

[Narrator]

Peter forward in his seat.

[Lindsey Graham]

Their Mercedes skids to a stop, but the car behind them does not.

[Narrator]

Furious, the driver gets out to inspect the damage to the rear of his.

[Lindsey Graham]

Car, and Peter watches through the windscreen.

[Narrator]

Wondering what caused this truck to block the intersection.

[Lindsey Graham]

Just then, a man carrying a long.

[Narrator]

Broom emerges from the trees.

[Lindsey Graham]

He runs toward the Mercedes, smashes the.

[Narrator]

Broom over the driver's head and knocks him unconscious.

[Lindsey Graham]

Peter realizes this is not an accident, it's an ambush.

[Narrator]

But before he can flee, four masked.

[Lindsey Graham]

Men fling open the doors of Peter's car. The largest of them pins Peter to the seat.

[Narrator]

Peter thrashes with all his might, but the men hold him down until one.

[Lindsey Graham]

Of them can rip back Peter's sleeve and inject something into his arm. Then, as the car's engine restarts, Peter begins to feel drowsy. By the time the car is in.

[Narrator]

Motion and hurtling down the road once.

[Lindsey Graham]

More, he is unconscious. After his abduction, Peter is moved to another car, then a truck, before finally waking up in a stuffy basement with.

[Narrator]

A high ceiling and soundproofed walls.

[Lindsey Graham]

Knowing that a prominent politician like Peter will soon be missed, the kidnappers release.

[Narrator]

A Polaroid photo of him holding up a handwritten sign.

[Lindsey Graham]

It says that he is now a prisoner of the 2nd of June Movement. This group of anarchists have pulled violent stunts before, so the government is worried.

[Narrator]

For Peter's safety, but Peter's captors are determined to treat their hostage humanely.

[Lindsey Graham]

They provide him with a bathroom, with a privacy curtain, and he's given newspapers every day, though the stories about his.

[Narrator]

Own kidnapping are censored. And at first the kidnappers try to question him about politics and the corruption.

[Lindsey Graham]

They see in his party. But eventually they give up and just.

[Narrator]

Play chess with him instead.

[Lindsey Graham]

But the 2 June Movement has serious demands in exchange for Peter's release, and.

[Narrator]

They mail these directly to to the press.

[Lindsey Graham]

They want the release of six imprisoned anarchists whose crimes range from membership in.

[Narrator]

An illegal organization to attempted murder.

[Lindsey Graham]

The movement also asks that the prisoners be put on a plane bound for Yemen, an ally of the Soviet Union. To guarantee the safety of the prisoners, the 2 June Movement wants the former mayor of Berlin, Heinrich Albertz, to join.

[Narrator]

Them on the plane as a voluntary hostage.

[Lindsey Graham]

The deadline they give is 9am the following Monday. And if they don't get what they want by then, they say they're going to kill Peter. On Sunday morning, one day before the deadline, while the authorities discuss arrangements for the prisoner's release, the West Berlin elections take place. Peter Lawrence's Christian Democratic Union Party wins the majority of votes, and Peter himself.

[Narrator]

Learns of the results when the kidnappers.

[Lindsey Graham]

Climb down a ladder into the basement and congratulate him on becoming the next.

[Narrator]

Mayor, though they remind him that he won't be taking office unless their demands are met.

[Lindsey Graham]

Then, on Monday morning, a plane takes off from Frankfurt airport. On board are the newly released anarchist prisoners and their voluntary hostage, Heinrich Alberts. When the plane lands in Yemen, the prisoners disbark and Heinrich Alberts is flown.

[Narrator]

Back to Germany with a letter to deliver.

[Lindsey Graham]

Upon his arrival, he reads the message live on tv. The letter concludes with the phrase, a day like this, as lovely as today.

[Narrator]

This is the code to the kidnappers.

[Lindsey Graham]

To release Peter Lawrence. So down in the soundproofed basement, Peter's.

[Narrator]

Captors celebrate with a bottle of wine before releasing him.

[Lindsey Graham]

They revel in their victory, hoping that the kidnapping will make the authorities think twice about the way they treat protesters in the future and believe that their success is a fitting tribute to Benno Onenesorg.

[Narrator]

But the truth about his death at the protest in West Berlin is still yet to be revealed.

[Lindsey Graham]

And decades later, a shocking revelation will.

[Narrator]

Alter perceptions of that day forever.

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[Lindsey Graham]

It's May 23, 2009, outside a Berlin.

[Narrator]

Grocery store, 40 years after the killing.

[Lindsey Graham]

Of Benno Onasork, now 81, Karl Heinz Koras walks slowly to the store entrance. He's on his way to pick up more beer.

[Narrator]

It's a warm day, and the retired.

[Lindsey Graham]

Policeman stops to adjust his collar. Glancing at the newspaper stand in front of the store, he sees his own.

[Narrator]

Name and face on every front page. His involvement in the killing of Benno.

[Lindsey Graham]

Onesork is being dug up again. But Karl Heinz doesn't need to read any of it.

[Narrator]

He already knows everything.

[Lindsey Graham]

After the shooting of Benno Onenesorg in 1967, Karl Heinz was generally thought of as a policeman gone rogue, a fascist thug with a gun and a jumpy trigger finger. But historians have now uncovered documents revealing.

[Narrator]

That Karl Heinz was actually an undercover.

[Lindsey Graham]

Spy for the Communists. Beginning in the mid-1950s, Karl Heinz passed.

[Narrator]

Information to the East German secret police, also known as the Stasi.

[Lindsey Graham]

As he rose up through the ranks of West Berlin's police force, the Stasi.

[Narrator]

Paid Karl Heinz more and more.

[Lindsey Graham]

But after Benno Onessorg's death, the Stasi cut all contact. They hid his files and destroyed any other evidence that could connect them to Karl Heinz.

[Narrator]

So the truth remained hidden for decades.

[Lindsey Graham]

Until now, when they are made public. The revelations are stunning. Many think it's possible that the Stasi.

[Narrator]

Asked Karl Heinz to exacerbate tensions in West Berlin and that's why he shot.

[Lindsey Graham]

Benno but there is no solid evidence to support this, and Karl Heinz has.

[Narrator]

No intention of providing it. He's tired of it all, and he.

[Lindsey Graham]

Never reveals what really lay behind the shooting before he dies in 2014. His silence leaves behind a murky and confusing legacy. Benno Onenesorg's death was a turning point in Germany's modern history, when its young people pushed for a clearer break with.

[Narrator]

The country's fascist past and a renewed.

[Lindsey Graham]

Embrace of democracy and human rights. The revelation that Benno's killer was inspired by socialism and and not fascism upset all preconceptions about the case and ensures.

[Narrator]

That for years to come, questions will.

[Lindsey Graham]

Continue to be asked about what really happened and why, when a young student.

[Narrator]

Was gunned down in a Berlin protest.

[Lindsey Graham]

On June 2, 1967. Next on History Daily After a rare.

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