Klaus Rainer Röhl
Encyclopedia
Klaus Rainer Röhl is a pre-eminent German
journalist and author, best known as founder, owner, publisher and editor-in-chief of konkret
, the most influential magazine on the German political left from the 1960s to the early 1970s. He has since become critical of communism
and leftist tendencies.
Known as "K2R", he founded the left-wing monthly magazine Studentenkurier in 1955. In 1957, the magazine was renamed konkret
and rose to prominence in the 1960s as the primary magazine of the Außerparlamentarische Opposition and the German student movement
. He had previously founded a weekly newspaper about and for the Hamburg sex trade, St Pauli Nachrichten. After the Communist Party of Germany
was banned as unconstitutional in West Germany in 1956, he became a clandestine member of the then illegal party as an act of support.
He was married to Ulrike Meinhof
from 1961 until the spring of 1968, before her descent into left-wing terrorism
. Their marriage produced two daughters, Regine and Bettina Röhl, who became an author critical of communism and far-left extremism. Ulrike later co-founded the Red Army Faction
, also known as the RAF or the Baader-Meinhof Gang, together with Andreas Baader
.
As a consequence of the radicalization in the late 1960s, and subsequent leftist terrorism, he turned away from Marxism
and gave his magazine a more moderate tone. This led to a power struggle between Röhl and those who supported the use of violence against the government (particularly his former wife), and his home in Hamburg was attacked in 1969 by Ulrike Meinhof and some konkret staff members. In 1970, the RAF kidnapped Röhl's daughters, with the intention of training them for the armed struggle in Palestine. They were rescued from Sicily
under dramatic circumstances by journalist Stefan Aust
, a long-time friend of Röhl. Klaus Rainer Röhl and his daughters subsequently lived under constant police protection for several years, fearing an attack or abduction by leftist terrorists.
The magazine konkret was dissolved in 1973. The year before, he had joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany
, a party considered "fascist" by the German communists. For some years, he then published the moderate leftist magazine das da. From 1981 to 1984, he published the left-wing magazine Spontan. However, from the mid 1980s, his political views gradually changed towards liberal conservatism
. He has been a member of the German liberal party, the Free Democratic Party of Germany, since 1995. He has been active in Liberale Offensive, the right-wing faction of the party that tried to revive the national liberal
tradition represented by Gustav Stresemann
, Thomas Dehler
and Erich Mende
, among others. He has also been a regular columnist for the newspaper Junge Freiheit
. He earned a doctorate in history at the Free University of Berlin
under the supervision of Ernst Nolte
in 1993, with a dissertation on cooperation between Communists and National Socialists against the Social Democratic Party (Nähe zum Gegner, published as a book in 1994). He has written several books critical of communism and the far-left.
His partner since the early 1970s has been Danae Coulmas, a Greek diplomat and author.
He was portrayed by Hans Werner Meyer
in the 2008 film Der Baader Meinhof Komplex
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
journalist and author, best known as founder, owner, publisher and editor-in-chief of konkret
Konkret
konkret has been the name of two German magazines.konkret was originally the name of a magazine established by Klaus Rainer Röhl in 1957, that was an influential magazine on the German political left in the 1960s...
, the most influential magazine on the German political left from the 1960s to the early 1970s. He has since become critical of communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
and leftist tendencies.
Known as "K2R", he founded the left-wing monthly magazine Studentenkurier in 1955. In 1957, the magazine was renamed konkret
Konkret
konkret has been the name of two German magazines.konkret was originally the name of a magazine established by Klaus Rainer Röhl in 1957, that was an influential magazine on the German political left in the 1960s...
and rose to prominence in the 1960s as the primary magazine of the Außerparlamentarische Opposition and the German student movement
German student movement
The German student movement was a protest movement that took place during the late 1960s in West Germany. It was largely a reaction against the perceived authoritarianism and hypocrisy of the German government and other Western governments, and the poor living conditions of students...
. He had previously founded a weekly newspaper about and for the Hamburg sex trade, St Pauli Nachrichten. After the Communist Party of Germany
Communist Party of Germany
The Communist Party of Germany was a major political party in Germany between 1918 and 1933, and a minor party in West Germany in the postwar period until it was banned in 1956...
was banned as unconstitutional in West Germany in 1956, he became a clandestine member of the then illegal party as an act of support.
He was married to Ulrike Meinhof
Ulrike Meinhof
Ulrike Marie Meinhof was a German left-wing militant. She co-founded the Red Army Faction in 1970 after having previously worked as a journalist for the monthly left-wing magazine Konkret. She was arrested in 1972, and eventually charged with numerous murders and the formation of a criminal...
from 1961 until the spring of 1968, before her descent into left-wing terrorism
Left-wing terrorism
Left-wing terrorism, sometimes called Marxist-Leninist terrorism or revolutionary/left-wing terrorism is a tactic used to overthrow capitalism and replace it with Marxist-Leninist or socialist government.-Ideology:...
. Their marriage produced two daughters, Regine and Bettina Röhl, who became an author critical of communism and far-left extremism. Ulrike later co-founded the Red Army Faction
Red Army Faction
The radicalized were, like many in the New Left, influenced by:* Sociological developments, pressure within the educational system in and outside Europe and the U.S...
, also known as the RAF or the Baader-Meinhof Gang, together with Andreas Baader
Andreas Baader
Andreas Bernd Baader was one of the first leaders of the German left-wing militant organization Red Army Faction, also commonly known as the Baader-Meinhof Gang.- Life :...
.
As a consequence of the radicalization in the late 1960s, and subsequent leftist terrorism, he turned away from Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
and gave his magazine a more moderate tone. This led to a power struggle between Röhl and those who supported the use of violence against the government (particularly his former wife), and his home in Hamburg was attacked in 1969 by Ulrike Meinhof and some konkret staff members. In 1970, the RAF kidnapped Röhl's daughters, with the intention of training them for the armed struggle in Palestine. They were rescued from Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
under dramatic circumstances by journalist Stefan Aust
Stefan Aust
Stefan Aust is a German journalist and was the editor-in-chief of the weekly news magazine Der Spiegel from 1994 to February 2008...
, a long-time friend of Röhl. Klaus Rainer Röhl and his daughters subsequently lived under constant police protection for several years, fearing an attack or abduction by leftist terrorists.
The magazine konkret was dissolved in 1973. The year before, he had joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
, a party considered "fascist" by the German communists. For some years, he then published the moderate leftist magazine das da. From 1981 to 1984, he published the left-wing magazine Spontan. However, from the mid 1980s, his political views gradually changed towards liberal conservatism
Liberal conservatism
Liberal conservatism also known as progressive conservatism is a variant of political conservatism which incorporates liberal elements. As "conservatism" and "liberalism" have had different meanings over time and across countries, the term "liberal conservatism" has been used in quite different...
. He has been a member of the German liberal party, the Free Democratic Party of Germany, since 1995. He has been active in Liberale Offensive, the right-wing faction of the party that tried to revive the national liberal
National liberalism
National liberalism is a variant of liberalism, combining nationalism with some liberal policies, especially regarding economic liberalism. The roots of it are to be found in the 19th century, when conservative liberalism was the ideology of the political classes in most European countries, then...
tradition represented by Gustav Stresemann
Gustav Stresemann
was a German politician and statesman who served as Chancellor and Foreign Minister during the Weimar Republic. He was co-laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1926.Stresemann's politics defy easy categorization...
, Thomas Dehler
Thomas Dehler
Thomas Dehler was a German politician. He was the Federal Republic of Germany's first Minister of Justice and chairman of Free Democratic Party .-Early life:...
and Erich Mende
Erich Mende
Dr. Erich Mende was a German politician of the FDP and CDU. He was the leader of FDP 1960 - 1968.-Early life:Mende was born in Gross-Strehlitz, Upper Silesia,...
, among others. He has also been a regular columnist for the newspaper Junge Freiheit
Junge Freiheit
The Junge Freiheit is a German weekly newspaper for politics and culture, that describes itself as liberal-conservative...
. He earned a doctorate in history at the Free University of Berlin
Free University of Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin is one of the leading and most prestigious research universities in Germany and continental Europe. It distinguishes itself through its modern and international character. It is the largest of the four universities in Berlin. Research at the university is focused on the...
under the supervision of Ernst Nolte
Ernst Nolte
Ernst Nolte is a German historian and philosopher. Nolte’s major interest is the comparative studies of Fascism and Communism. He is Professor Emeritus of Modern History at the Free University of Berlin, where he taught from 1973 to 1991. He was previously a Professor at the University of Marburg...
in 1993, with a dissertation on cooperation between Communists and National Socialists against the Social Democratic Party (Nähe zum Gegner, published as a book in 1994). He has written several books critical of communism and the far-left.
His partner since the early 1970s has been Danae Coulmas, a Greek diplomat and author.
He was portrayed by Hans Werner Meyer
Hans Werner Meyer
Hans Werner Meyer is a German film and television actor.-Selected filmography:* Marlene * Safe Conduct * The Baader Meinhof Complex * Albert Schweitzer -External links:...
in the 2008 film Der Baader Meinhof Komplex
Der Baader Meinhof Komplex
The Baader Meinhof Complex is a 2008 German film by Uli Edel. Written and produced by Bernd Eichinger, it stars Moritz Bleibtreu, Martina Gedeck and Johanna Wokalek. The film is based on the 1985 German best selling non-fiction book of the same name by Stefan Aust...
.
Publications
- Fünf Finger sind keine Faust. Kiepenheuer und Witsch, Köln 1974, ISBN 3-462-01002-6, Munich 1998, ISBN 3-8004-1365-5 (autobiographical)
- Die Genossin. Roman. Molden, Wien 1975, ISBN 3-217-00677-1 (on Ulrike Meinhof)
- Lustobjekt. Ein kleiner Irrtum und seine fatalen Folgen. Europaverlag, Wien 1980, ISBN 3-203-50735-8
- Aufstand der Amazonen. Geschichte einer Legende. Econ-Verlag, Düsseldorf 1982, ISBN 3-430-17797-9
- Die verteufelte Lust. Die Geschichte der Prüderie und die Unterdrückung der Frau. Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg 1983, ISBN 3-455-08695-0
- Nähe zum Gegner. Kommunisten und Nationalsozialisten im Berliner BVG-Streik von 1932. Campus Verlag, Frankfurt/Main 1994, ISBN 3-593-35038-6
- Linke Lebenslügen. Ullstein, Berlin 1994, ISBN 3-548-36634-1. (new ed.. Universitas, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-8004-1430-9)
- Deutsches Phrasenlexikon. Lehrbuch der politischen Korrektheit für Anfänger und Fortgeschrittene. Ullstein, Berlin 2001, ISBN 3-550-07077-2; Mit den geänderten Untertitel: Politisch korrekt von A-Z. 4., revised ed.. Universitas, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-8004-1409-0
- Deutscher Narrenspiegel. Hypochonder und Schutzheilige. Universitas, München 1998, ISBN 3-8004-1338-8
- Riesen und Wurzelzwerge. Das Dilemma der deutschen Linken. Universitas, Munich 1999, ISBN 3-8004-1388-4
- Verbotene Trauer. Die vergessenen Opfer. Universitas, Munich 2002, ISBN 3-8004-1423-6
- Deutsche Tabus. Universitas, München 2004, ISBN 3-8004-1467-8
- Du bist Deutschland. Satiren aus der europäischen Provinz. Universitas, Munich 2007, ISBN 978-3-8004-1473-4
- „Einige Eiffelturmlängen über allem übrigen!“ Erinnerungen an Kurt HillerKurt HillerKurt Hiller also known as Keith Lurr and Klirr was a German essayist of high stylistic originality and a political journalist from a Jewish family. A socialist, he was deeply influenced by Immanuel Kant and Arthur Schopenhauer, despising the philosophy of G. W. F...
, in: Rüdiger Schütt (ed.), Zwischen den Kriegen. Werner Riegel, Klaus Rainer Röhl und Peter Rühmkorf: Briefwechsel mit Kurt Hiller 1953–1971, Edition text + kritik, Munich 2009, S. 334–336 (ebenda auch Briefe an und von Hiller), ISBN 978-3-88377-997-3