Gießen attack, 1977

[David Powell]

Hi folks.

I hate to barge in, but I heard of a terrorist attack in 1977 that was repelled at a U.S. Army base in Germany. It sounds fascinating and I was wondering if anyone knew where I could find other sources of information?

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army_Faction

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army_Faction>

4 January 1977

Giessen (West Germany)

Attack against US 42nd Field Artillery Brigade at Gießen. In a failed attack against the Gießen army base, the RAF sought to capture or destroy nuclear weapons present.[56] A diversionary bomb attack on a fuel tank failed to fully ignite the fuel, and the assault on the armory was then repulsed, with several RAF members killed in the ensuing firefight. The presence of U.S. warheads on German soil was classified and officially denied at the time, and the incident received little publicity. General William Burns, who commanded the base in 1977, detailed the attack in a 1996 interview.[57]

[THE COLONEL]

It was all thanks to yer Colonel.

[adria...@gmail.com]

I was in Göppingen West Germany at the time and I remember the incident well.all West Germany was put on a lock down until the remaining at large were found. it was considered a minor field problem.Minor field problems do not receive a lot of publicity

[ddchem...@gmail.com]

We lived in Marshal housing area at the time - wow

[jtclas...@gmail.com]

It happen I was there

[rocky_...@yahoo.com]

C Btry 3/79th was on Reserve Force that night, five miles away at Rivers Barracks when the explosion went off. By the time we got there they were attacking the Armory. Because of the confusion we were pinned down by the NATO Site guards at the dismount site. When it was over we were on high alert and restricted to post.
It was a cold long night. But true.

[dpbr...@gmail.com]

I remember very well that incident, was gate guard at the zoo. That was the only time I was issued two full clips of ammo. As mentioned by Rocky those were a serious couple of days. Reserve Force when the horn sounded you never knew what to expect.