Benno Ohnesorg: A Student Voice That Sparked Change

Benno Ohnesorg was a young German student whose untimely death on June 2, 1967, marked a turning point in West German political life. Born in Hanover, little is known about his early childhood, except that he lost his mother at the age of nine. Despite early setbacks, Ohnesorg was determined to pursue education. He initially trained in visual display and decoration, but with persistence, he managed to complete high school at the age of 23 and entered the Free University of Berlin to study literature and theology.