EXPLANATIONS FOR THE LARGE NUMBER OF FEMALE TERRORISTS IN WEST GERMANY HAVE BEEN BASED ON INDIVIDUAL BIOGRAPHY, SEXUAL BEHAVIOR THEORIES, AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT, WITH LITTLE ATTENTION TO WOMEN'S SOCIAL SITUATION. THE MOTIVE FOR TERRORIST ACTIONS AS REPORTED BY FEMALE TERRORISTS THEMSELVES IS TO RAISE THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE DOWN-TRODDEN MASSES AND TO PROMOTE REVOLUTION. SOCIOLOGICALLY, THE TERRORISTS' INDIVIDUAL INTERPRETATIONS OF RELEVANT SOCIAL FACTORS CLASH WITH EVERYDAY REALITY. DISCREPANCIES IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC INFLUENCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF TERRORISTS; THE NEED FOR EMANCIPATORY INTERACTION, THE DESIRE FOR IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION, THE HIGH EXPECTATIONS, AND THE LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION WHICH CONTRASTS TO THE MARKED NEED FOR SECURITY OF THEIR ELDERS CAUSE THE TERRORISTS TO TURN THE COUNTERCULTURE FOR SATISFACTION. THE PROFESSIONAL CLASS ORIGINS OF THE TERRORISTS ARE ESPECIALLY EVIDENT IN THE COMPLICATED LOGISTICS OF THEIR ACTIVITIES, THE NEGATION OF THE NEED FOR SECURITY, THE UNREALISTIC CONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE WORKING CLASS, AND THE ABSTRACT RATIONALIZATIONS FOR VIOLENCE. WOMEN HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN EXCLUDED FROM POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS AND ARE MORE AWARE THAN MEN OF THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE RIGHTS TO WHICH THEY ARE ENTITLED AND THEIR ACTUAL POSSIBILITIES. AS A RESULT, THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO PARLIAMENTARY INSTITUTIONS, SECURITY, AND EMANCIPATORY INTERACTION IS DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF MEN. WOMEN CONSEQUENTLY TEND TO MAKE THEIR DEMANDS TO THE STATE MORE BOLDLY THAN MEN. THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT ARE TERRORISM HAVE IN COMMON THEIR ORIGINS IN THE SOCIAL EXCLUSION OF WELL-EDUCATED WOMEN, OPERATION OUTSIDE EXISTING INSTITUTIONS, AND THE FOCUS OF ACTIVITIES ON OPPRESSED INDIVIDUALS. ON THE CONTRARY; FEMALE TERRORISTS DIFFER FROM FEMINISTS IN THAT THE TERRORISTS EXAGGERATE TYPICAL FEMALE SACRIFICIAL BEHAVIOR RATHER THAN SEEKING INDEPENDENT ACTION, THEY ACT FOR OTHERS RATHER THAN PURSUING THEIR OWN INTERESTS, AND THEY RESORT TO FORCE RATHER THAN DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES. AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)