A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF TERRORISM FROM THE EXTRAPARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION IN 1966 TO TERRORIST ACTIVITIES IN 1977 SHOWS THAT THE DEVELOPMENT IS NEITHER DIRECT NOR MONOCAUSAL. PSYCHOLOGICALLY, TERRORIST ACTIONS HAVE BEEN MOTIVATED BY DISCONTENT WITH SOCIETY AND BY IMPATIENCE. THE DEGREE OF VIOLENCE HAS ESCALATED WITH EACH OF THREE WEST GERMAN TERRORIST GENERATIONS. REAL SOCIAL CONDITIONS, PARTICULARLY NEGLECT OF MORALS IN POLITICS AND OF CHILDREN'S EMOTIONAL NEEDS IN A PROSPEROUS, MATERIALISTIC SOCIETY HAVE AGGRAVATED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, FLAWS IN TERRORIST THINKING IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC ARE EVIDENCE THAT TERRORIST ACTION IS UNSUITABLE FOR BRINGING ABOUT SOCIAL CHANGE: THE BELIEF THAT THE POPULATION CAN BE CONVINCED TO PARTICIPATE IN A VIOLENT REVOLUTION, THAT A SYSTEM CAN BE HUMANIZED BY KILLING HUMAN BEINGS, THAT TERRORISM IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC HELPS LIBERATION MOVEMENTS IN COLONIAL LANDS OR ANTIFASCIST RESISTANCE, AND THAT TERRORISM CAN SERVE CAUSES OF FREEDOM AND SOCIAL PROGRESS, THE WORKER'S MOVEMENT IN THE 19TH CENTURY ALREADY DISPROVED THESE ASSUMPTIONS. TERRORISTS HAVE ALSO TENDED TO MIX ABSTRACT IDEALISM WITH UNDIALECTICAL MATERIALISM AND TO VIOLATE THE ETHICS OF RESPONSIBILITY ACCEPTED BY POLITICALLY ACTIVE INDIVIDUALS. THE PUBLIC REACTION TO TERRORISTS HAS BEEN EXCESSIVE CONSIDERING THE RELATIVELY LIMITED SCOPE OF THEIR CRIMES AND THE BASIC STABILITY OF THE STATE, PROBABLY BECAUSE OF PUBLIC OBJECTIONS TO THE TYPE OF INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED. MEASURES SUCH AS CENTRALIZATION OF POLICE ACTIVITIES AND IMPROVEMENT OF TECHNICAL POLICE AIDS HAVE BEEN NECESSARY, BUT 1974 CHANGES IN RULES GOVERNING CRIMINAL COURT PROCEDURES ARE DEEMED EXTREME. THE DEATH PENALTY FOR TERRORIST OFFENDERS IS REJECTED IN PUBLIC OPINION. A CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF TERRORIST EVENTS, NOTES, AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND AN APPENDIX WITH AUGUST BEBEL'S ESSAY ON 'ASSASSINATIONS AND SOCIAL DEMOCRACY' ARE SUPPLIED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)