Historian Defends Controversial Claims on 1970 Munich Arson and Left-Wing Antisemitism
Wolfgang Kraushaar, a former researcher at the Hamburg Institute for Social Research, spoke at an event in Hanover on Thursday. The discussion, organized by the association Against Forgetting—For Democracy, focused on the line between criticism of Israel and antisemitism. Kraushaar also addressed his controversial findings on a 1970 arson attack in Munich, which have faced renewed scrutiny.
The event explored when political criticism of Israel becomes antisemitic. Kraushaar highlighted the role of journalist Henryk M. Broder in exposing left-wing antisemitism during the 1970s. He also suggested that psychological factors might contribute to antisemitic attitudes within leftist movements.
Kraushaar revisited his 2005 book, The Bomb in the Jewish Community Center, which identified Dieter Kunzelmann as the perpetrator of the 1970 Munich old people's home arson attack. He named Peter Urbach as an arms supplier and informant for West Berlin's domestic intelligence agency. However, he admitted feeling isolated when he first published these claims, as few supported his conclusions at the time.
Recent criticism has challenged his findings. Der Spiegel reported a possible neo-Nazi link to the attack, but Kraushaar did not address this during the event. Instead, he defended his work, dismissing accusations from neues deutschland that he falsified quotes and defamed writer Ulrich Enzensberger. While he presented no direct evidence tying the group Aktion Südfront to the attack, he cited his 2012 book, which compiled indirect indications—such as Kunzelmann's Fatah contacts and statements from former Red Army Faction (RAF) members.
Kraushaar announced plans to publish a written response to the latest criticism. He stood by his earlier research, arguing that left-wing extremists were responsible for the attack.
The Hanover event brought renewed attention to Kraushaar's long-standing claims about the 1970 arson case. His upcoming written response will likely extend the debate over the attack's true perpetrators. For now, the discussion remains unresolved, with critics demanding stronger evidence and Kraushaar maintaining his position.
