1967day.year
Benno Ohnesorg
(1940 - 1967)
German student and activist
German student and activist
German student whose fatal shooting during a 1967 protest galvanized the West German student movement.
Benno Ohnesorg (1940–1967) was a German university student and political activist. On June 2, 1967, he was shot and killed by a West Berlin police officer while protesting the visit of the Shah of Iran, triggering widespread outrage. His death became a catalyst for the German student movement, spurring protests against authoritarianism and sparking debates on civil liberties. Ohnesorg's funeral drew thousands and helped launch the careers of prominent political figures and radical groups. His legacy remains a symbol of resistance and the power of student activism in post-war Germany.
1967
Benno Ohnesorg