1972 January 10, 1972 Federal Republic of Germany

Der Spiegel publishes a letter by future Nobel laureate Heinrich Böll, in which he decries the Springer Press’s Bild newspaper for a recently published headline accusing the Baader-Meinhof Gang of murder. The Bild headline referred to the shooting of police officer Herbert Schoner on December 20. Böll says that Bild’s Baader-Meinhof coverage “Isn’t cryptofascist anymore, not fascistoid, but naked fascism, agitation, lies, dirt.”

Though Bild is quickly proven right in its premature accusations, Böll’s letter helps to elicit a storm of support letters, as well as letters disagreeing with him. After his letter, Böll is forever branded a Baader-Meinhof supporter.