The Audio Long Read ‘Resistance is when I put an end to what I don’t like’: The rise and fall of the Baader-Meinhof gang
Oct 24, 2025
Join Noof Ousellam, a professional narrator known for his engaging voice work, as he explores the chaotic world of the Baader-Meinhof gang. The discussion dives into the contrasting motivations of West German radicals and their Palestinian counterparts. Ousellam reveals Ulrike Meinhof's disturbing transformation from journalist to radical, the group's hasty escapes to the Middle East, and their unexpected challenges back in Germany. The podcast paints a vivid picture of ambition, error, and the dark turn to violence that defined this infamous group.
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Their Journey To Middle East Training
- Ulrika Meinhof, Godrun Ensslin and Andreas Baader fled to the Middle East seeking guerrilla training and prestige.
- They travelled via East Berlin, Prague, Beirut, Damascus and into Jordan to join Palestinian camps.
Palestinian Cause As Revolutionary Training Ground
- Western leftists embraced the Palestinian cause as a feasible site for direct revolutionary involvement.
- The Middle East offered accessible symbolism and limited immediate legal risk for returning activists.
Ensslin's Radicalization And Personal Sacrifice
- Godrun Ensslin transformed from pastor's daughter and scholar to radical who embraced violence after 1967 protests.
- She left her infant son to join activism and fell in love with Andreas Baader in Berlin's radical scene.
