Political self-immolation

On 16 November 1977, Hartmut Gründler, an environmental activist from Tübingen, pours petrol over his body in front of the church and sets himself on fire; five days later, he succumbs to his severe injuries in hospital. He sees the act as a »beacon« against the SPD’s nuclear policy, which in his view is a threat to life and the future. The SPD is holding its national conference in the Congress Center at the same time. Chancellor Schmidt has been the subject of Gründler’s criticism since Schmidt took office. Gründler uses letters and hunger strikes to try to persuade him to phase out nuclear power. Following instructions in Gründler’s will, a scorched copy of Schmidt’s 1976 book »Als Christ in der politischen Entscheidung [A Christian in Political Decision Making]« is symbolically placed on top of the coffin.