Edward Pimental
Encyclopedia
Edward F. Pimental was an United States Army
specialist
murdered in Germany
by members of the Red Army Faction
in 1985.
Pimental was from New York City
. Stationed with the U.S. Army in Germany, he was murdered by members of the Red Army Faction
near Wiesbaden
on the night of August 8, 1985.
Pimental was with other GI's in the "Western Saloon" in Wiesbaden
, where he was invited to leave the bar by Birgit Hogefeld
. He left the bar with her and was killed the same night in the nearby woods. Pimental's U.S. military ID card
was stolen and was used the next day by a male member of the Red Army Faction to gain access to the Rhein-Main Air Base
and place a car bomb
(a Volkswagen Passat
loaded with 240 kg of explosives) - at the base, resulting in the two killed and eleven wounded.
Hogefeld was subsequently convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Higher Regional Court
of Frankfurt
. The murder of Edward Pimental caused heated discussions in far-leftist circles in Germany because with him it was the first time a person without major political or economic status was killed deliberately.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
specialist
Specialist (rank)
Specialist is one of the four junior enlisted ranks in the U.S. Army, just above Private First Class and equivalent in pay grade to Corporal. Unlike Corporals, Specialists are not considered junior non-commissioned officers...
murdered in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
by members of the Red Army Faction
Red Army Faction
The radicalized were, like many in the New Left, influenced by:* Sociological developments, pressure within the educational system in and outside Europe and the U.S...
in 1985.
Pimental was from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Stationed with the U.S. Army in Germany, he was murdered by members of the Red Army Faction
Red Army Faction
The radicalized were, like many in the New Left, influenced by:* Sociological developments, pressure within the educational system in and outside Europe and the U.S...
near Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
on the night of August 8, 1985.
Pimental was with other GI's in the "Western Saloon" in Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
, where he was invited to leave the bar by Birgit Hogefeld
Birgit Hogefeld
Birgit Hogefeld is a former member of the West German Red Army Faction .-Early life:Born in Wiesbaden, Hogefeld joined the RAF in the eighties long after its founding members Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin and Ulrike Meinhof were dead...
. He left the bar with her and was killed the same night in the nearby woods. Pimental's U.S. military ID card
United States Uniformed Services Privilege and Identification Card
A United States Uniformed Services Privilege and Identification Card is an identity document issued by the United States Department of Defense to identify a person as a member of the Armed Forces or a member's dependent, such as a child or spouse.The card is...
was stolen and was used the next day by a male member of the Red Army Faction to gain access to the Rhein-Main Air Base
Rhein-Main Air Base
Rhein-Main Air Base was a U.S. Air Force / NATO military airbase near the city of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It occupied the south side of Frankfurt International Airport. Its airport codes are discontinued....
and place a car bomb
Car bomb
A car bomb, or truck bomb also known as a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device , is an improvised explosive device placed in a car or other vehicle and then detonated. It is commonly used as a weapon of assassination, terrorism, or guerrilla warfare, to kill the occupants of the vehicle,...
(a Volkswagen Passat
Volkswagen Passat
The Volkswagen Passat is a large family car marketed by Volkswagen Passenger Cars through six design generations since 1973. Between the Volkswagen Golf / Volkswagen Jetta and the Volkswagen Phaeton in the current Volkswagen line-up, the Passat and its derivatives have been badged variously as...
loaded with 240 kg of explosives) - at the base, resulting in the two killed and eleven wounded.
Hogefeld was subsequently convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Higher Regional Court
Oberlandesgericht
The Oberlandesgericht is one of the 'ordinary courts' in Germany...
of Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
. The murder of Edward Pimental caused heated discussions in far-leftist circles in Germany because with him it was the first time a person without major political or economic status was killed deliberately.
