Olympic assassination - Children's foundation established 52 years after the Olympic attack
Fifty-two years after the Munich Olympics Attack in 1972, the Federal Republic, the Free State of Bavaria, and the City of Munich established the Anton Fliegerbauer Children Foundation. It is named after the policeman who was killed alongside eleven members of the Israeli Olympic Team by Palestinian terrorists during the attack.
"In memory of Fliegerbauer, we want to help needy children, young people, and their families with projects that are financed by the foundation's funds," said Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU).
Further clarification and help for young people
The State Secretary at the Federal Interior Ministry, Juliane Seifert (SPD), spoke of a failure of the authorities and inadequate processing of the events surrounding the attack in its aftermath. For this reason, the Federal Government, the Free State, and the City of Munich have taken responsibility.
"It is especially important for the families of the victims that the still open questions are finally clarified and transparency is established over the events and their pre- and post-history," she said, and referred to an international Historians Commission that has been working on the investigation for about a year.
In the early morning of September 5, 1972, terrorists entered the accommodation of the Israeli sports team in Munich, shot and killed two men, and took nine hostages. The attempt to free the hostages ended 18 hours later in a bloodbath. Policeman Fliegerbauer was killed, as were all hostages and five attackers, who wanted to free approximately 200 prisoners in Israel with their action.
Foundation instead of compensation funds
While the families of the Israeli victims received compensation, Fliegerbauer's family wished for a charitable foundation. Projects for children, adolescents, and families after a traumatic experience such as the death of a close relative are to be supported, as well as projects for violence prevention, strengthening civil courage, and international encounters. Bavaria and Munich each contribute 750,000 Euros, 500,000 Euros from the Federal Government.
Joachim Herrmann, as the Interior Minister of Bavaria and a member of the CSU, emphasized the importance of the Anton Fliegerbauer Children Foundation. The foundation, established in memory of the slain policeman, aims to aid needy children, young people, and their families in Germany.
The foundation's projects are funded by contributions from the Free State of Bavaria, the City of Munich, and the Federal Government. The Federal Interior Ministry, under the leadership of State Secretary Juliane Seifert (SPD), recognized the failures of the authorities in handling the aftermath of the Munich Olympics Attack in 1972.
As a result, the German government, along with Bavaria and Munich, has taken responsibility for fully clarifying the events surrounding the attack. This includes addressing open questions and establishing transparency in the pre- and post-history of the incident.
The International Historians Commission, working on the investigation for about a year, will play a crucial role in this clarification process. Although compensation funds were provided to the families of the Israeli victims, Fliegerbauer's family expressed a desire for a charitable foundation instead.
The foundation's projects include supporting children, adolescents, and families who have experienced trauma, such as the death of a close relative. It also aims to fund projects for violence prevention, strengthening civil courage, and international encounters.
Germany's commitment to addressing the past and ensuring a safer future is evident in its establishment of the Anton Fliegerbauer Children Foundation, paying tribute to its fallen hero while also providing aid to those in need.
