The Red Army Faction (RAF), also known as the Baader-Meinhof Group, was a left-wing militant organization in West Germany that operated from the 1970s to the 1990s. It aimed to challenge what its members viewed as a fascist state and U.S. imperialism. The group was involved in various violent activities, including bank robberies, bombings, and assassinations. The RAF was founded by Andreas Baader, Ulrike Meinhof, and others, who were influenced by Marxist and anti-imperialist ideologies. The organization gained notoriety for its radical tactics and was responsible for numerous high-profile attacks, leading to a significant crackdown by the German government and law enforcement agencies.