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Historians Debunk Myth of Terrorists Watching 1972 Munich Crisis Live on TV

New evidence confirms the absence of televisions in the terrorists' quarters, challenging a decades-old narrative of police missteps.

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Eine historische Aufnahme zeigt eine Gruppe von Männern, die sehr ernst miteinander sprechen. Ein Mann steht abseits im Hintergrund

Overview

  • Researchers from the Institute for Contemporary History (IfZ) found no televisions or radios in the terrorists' apartment during the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre, disproving the long-held belief they watched police actions live on TV.
  • Architectural plans and a 25-page police inventory confirmed the absence of TV connections or devices in Connollystraße 31, where the hostages were held.
  • The police's decision to abort an assault on the terrorists' apartment was due to the arrival of a negotiating delegation with Interior Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher, not concerns about live TV monitoring.
  • The myth of live TV surveillance was fueled by coincidental events, including police storming an ABC News control room and the withdrawal of rooftop officers, though these actions were unrelated to the terrorists' awareness.
  • The international expert commission, in collaboration with the IfZ, continues to investigate the broader historical, political, and media dimensions of the Munich massacre.