Inscriptions of Munich (South of the Center)

Bomb Assassination During the Munich Oktoberfest

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Going by foot from the center of the city or from the nearest subway exit to the Theresienwiese (Theresia's Meadow), where every year the Oktoberfest, the world-known Festival of Beer, takes place, you will arrive directly where there habitually is the main entrance of the Festival. On the right of that passage (see the photo on the left below) you will see the memorial described in this page.

The Festival

Sorrow

Comment

This assassination not only caused the death of several persons (among whom two children of the same family), but also injured more than a hundred persons (among whom a big number of severely injured ones). The bomb, which had been placed in a garbage can, exploded in the very middle of the crowd.

The investigations and the trial made after the crime were vehemently criticized by the population because one more time one had the impression that the German police and judicial authorities were not disposed to pursue rightist terrorist activities as vigorously leftist ones. In fact, an individual criminal (killed by his own assassination) was very soon presented to the population as the only responsible though everyone desired a big haul against the whole extreme rightist scene, of which the assassin had at least been an active sympathizer. As we know now, the German judicial authorities' "blindness on the right eye" has caused many other victims during the following years. As an example of evitable recent assassinations perpetrated by extreme rightist organizations in Germany, see the English Wikipedia's article entitled National Socialist Underground.

For more details on the Munich Festival of Beer see the English Wikipedia's article Oktoberfest.

Linguistic Notes

The Theresienwiese (Theresia's Meadow) will simply be called "d'Wies'n" (the Meadow) by the inhabitants that speak the Bavarian dialect. A more official name you'll find in the subway stations and elsewhere is "Festwiese" (Meadow of the Festival).

As shown by the photos, the Festival of Beer is called Oktoberfest (October Festival) in standard German language. But the bomb assassination was perpetrated in the last days of september, and the Festival had already lasted for some time. In fact, that Festival always takes place for two weeks, and the second week finishes in october.

Internet

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Arrivée en moyens de transport en commun

As the Theresienwiese is located in the center of the city, there are several possibilities of access, the most important ones being the following:

S-Bahn station "Hackerbrücke", subway stations "Theresienwiese" (directly at the main entrance of the Meadow), "Goetheplatz" or "Poccistraße". Having arrived there, just follow the crowd...

Indications concerning the arrival correspond to our personal knowledge or even experience, but we cannot assume any responsibility for their rightness. When you are reading this page, things may have changed in reality.

Hans-Rudolf Hower 2013

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Last updated: April 4, 2016