Oktoberfest Bomb Attack Documentation
The Theresienwiese in Munich – known for the largest folk festival in the world – was the scene of a bomb attack motivated by right-wing extremists in 1980. The Oktoberfest evening on September 26 ended with brutal violence for 234 people.
The Oktoberfest attack is the most serious act of terrorism in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany. However, he was largely repressed from the collective memory. To this day, the background to the crime has not been fully clarified, and possible accomplices have not been convicted.
The documentation at the scene of the assassination provides information about what happened. It commemorates the victims, allows survivors and relatives as well as eyewitnesses to have their say and describes how society has dealt with the attack up to the present day.
42nd anniversary of the Oktoberfest bomb attack
On Monday, 26 September 2022, a memorial and wreath-laying ceremony was held to mark the right-wing extremist bomb attack of 1980. Speeches were held at the Memorial Site of the Oktoberfest Bomb Attack by Dieter Reiter, the Mayor of Munich, as well as representatives of the German Trade Union Youth Organisation (DGB-Jugend), the DIDF-Jugend (Youth Association) of the Föderation Demokratischer Arbeitervereine (Federation of Democratic Workers’ Associations) and the Antisexistische Aktion München – ASAM (Antisexist Campaign Group Munich).
We are particularly pleased that, once again this year, survivors were also present at the commemoration ceremony.
Speech Dieter Reiter - Mayor of Munich
Speech Florian Gersten - DGB-Jugend
Speech Alev Bahadir - DIDF Jugend Speech ASAM
Expansion of the 'Documentation Oktoberfest Bomb Attack'
On the occasion of the 42nd anniversary the documentation site has been expanded to include a new installation of video clips. In these 2–5 minute-long film clips 10 survivors recall the 26 September 1980 and give a poignant insight into their lives following the bomb attack. Divided into six thematic sections, around 50 video clips in two languages can now be called up at the media station on site.
The video clips and the entire documentation site are readily accessible to those with impaired mobility. Access is free of charge.
