Benno Ohnesorg: A Student Voice That Sparked Change

That day, a violent group of around 150 pro-Shah Iranians—later known as the “hoochis”—attacked the anti-Shah demonstrators with clubs and sticks. Instead of stopping the attackers, police forces largely turned their aggression toward the protesting students. Tensions escalated further that evening when the Shah attended a performance at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin. In response, students from the Free University organized a larger demonstration outside the opera house, where Benno Ohnesorg was present.