Was Baader really a revolutionary? - Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (2008) Discussion

[–] Troken 13 years ago

He was against that the next generation RAF were involvning civilians, and realised that the revolution had not evolved as he wanted. The first RAF's policy was not to involve civilians in any deeds (according to the movie).

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[–] There_Is_No_Sayid 13 years ago

Yeah he does say that later on. Of course they're robbing banks earlier in the film and Baader condones petty theft. There's also the scene where they're driving and Baader fires his gun out the window with complete disregard for where the bullets are going.

"Unless Alpert's covered in bacon grease, I don't think Hugo can track anything."

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[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] There_Is_No_Sayid 13 years ago

pot meet kettle

"Unless Alpert's covered in bacon grease, I don't think Hugo can track anything."

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[–] saxman418 11 years ago

Like the Marxist regime in China, the next superpower?

Blowin' the changes!

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[–] mrb27896 13 years ago

he seemed like a narcissistic sociopath. nothing more, nothing less.

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[–] mobocracy 13 years ago

He was no more of a revolutionary than Donald "Cinque" DeFreeze of the SLA was. Another violent sociopath who found a support group and a sense of justification for his violent behavior.

It seems like a lot of "action" oriented lefty groups from the 70s had similar social dynamics, some key core members that were really just violent criminals and kind of served to fuel the "action" dynamic of the group. Ironically it's often as the sex partner of a better educated female member of the group.

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[–] theemaster 13 years ago

I disagree.. I think the people agreed with his revolution.. and I think even the act of revolution.. got people to “think” about things differently..

The good news is today.. we no longer need violence (or much of it) to make a point.. revolution can come about peacefully, eventually

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[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] greenbanzanas 12 years ago

As presented in the movie, as I surmise to be the case in real life, Baader was of course a revolutionary.

That being said those who disagree probably consider him a criminal, or, in today's vernacular, a terrorist.

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[–] roycant07 12 years ago

The vast majority of Germans were and still very supportive of the RAF even when they were engaging in all out war against the State.

While I wouldn't agree with their terrorist acts, their politics were solid and they would've probably gained more strength and numbers if they would've went the grassroots democratic way.

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[–] LuSiD 11 years ago

Vast majority? Interested in your source on that one.

I've been loving too much, caring too little -- TormentoR.

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[–] Ehrgeiz 10 years ago

Its not true. They did even a poll in the first years of the RAF, around 1972, and it came out, that 10-15 % had sympathies for the RAF, which faded away fast in the next years mainly because of the nature of the assasinations. In numbers, the RAF was a small movement. About 100 people were active in the inner circles, and many of them only a couple of months after they were captured, died or left the group. The closer support, were the RAF recruited there members, was estimated to be around 1000 people. Many of them were active in the so called "prisoner support", which arguably was in propaganda aspects the most effective tool the RAF ever had.

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[–] PoppyTransfusion 11 years ago

We don't see him before to have a strong sense of his politics, in the way we do with Gudrun and Ulrike. He was a man of action and obviously charismatic. My belief is that many freedom fighters become terrorists as they lose sight of their aims along the way. He seemed to fit this even reverting to misogyny at times.

Away with the manners of withered virgins

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[–] jay_guevara-1 11 years ago

We don't see him before to have a strong sense of his politics, in the way we do with Gudrun and Ulrike. He was a man of action and obviously charismatic. My belief is that many freedom fighters become terrorists as they lose sight of their aims along the way. He seemed to fit this even reverting to misogyny at times.

From what we see in the film, Baader was more of a poser than a political idealist and he was motivated by the (perceived) lure of adventure and the glory that his exploits would bring rather than revolutionary fervour.

This is underscored by the scenes at the training camp in Jordan where Baader not only makes racist remarks but is the subject of amusement between Achmed and Peter because he's more preoccupied with preening the sand from his trousers than following the training exercise.

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[–] PoppyTransfusion 11 years ago

From what we see in the film

This is the important qualification and is why I suggested he lost his way, as many do.

Away with the manners of withered virgins

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[–] Ehrgeiz 10 years ago

Baader was kind of an anarchist. Years before the RAF was born, he already made a name as troublemaker with a rough attitude. Many of the student movement admired him at first for his "practical approach". He loved to style himself as a gangster also and had a knack to steal expensive cars. There was a joke the appreviation BMW stood for "Baader Meinhof Wagen", because the RAF would steal so many.
Later, when the RAF was formed, he behaved and was treated like a cult leader. The other high ranking leaders in the RAF styled him as the perfect revolutionary and every member should be like him.

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[–] PoppyTransfusion 10 years ago

he behaved and was treated like a cult leader. The other high ranking leaders in the RAF styled him as the perfect revolutionary and every member should be like him

And so begins a cult of personality.

I give my respect to those who have earned it; to everyone else, I'm civil.

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