When the German radical right terrorist group “Nationalsozialistischer Untergrund” (“National Socialist Underground”) (NSU) was revealed in 2011, one aspect particularly intrigued the media and the general public: A woman, Beate Zschäpe, had been a key member of the group. The public astonishment at this fact often dominated the coverage of the group`s crimes and the following trial.
Indeed, when talking about radical right terrorists one generally assumes the perpetrators to be men. It is a common, often implied assumption that, unlike in other terrorist groups, women played - and still play - almost no role in radical right terrorism. Beate Zschäpe is regarded to be a remarkable exception.
As a matter of fact, male members have always outnumbered women in radical right terrorist groups in Germany. Yet a closer look reveals that women have regularly taken part in radical right terrorist activities but their role has been widely neglected so far.
