The Red Army Faction (RAF) existed in West Germany from 1970 to 1998, committing numerous crimes, especially in the autumn of 1977, which led to a national crisis that became known as the "German Autumn". The RAF was founded in 1970 by Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin, Ulrike Meinhof, Horst Mahler, and others. The first generation of the organization was commonly referred to by the press and the government as the "Baader-Meinhof Gang", a name the group did not use to refer to itself. The RAF was responsible for 34 deaths, including many secondary targets such as chauffeurs and bodyguards, and many injuries in its almost 30 years of activity. Eileen MacDonald stated in Shoot the Women First (1991) that women made up about fifty percent of the membership of the Red Army Faction and about eighty percent of the RAF's supporters. This was higher than other similar groups in West Germany, in which women made up about thirty percent of the membership. First generation Red Army Faction (1970–75) Founding first generation members Andreas Baader (6 May 1943 – 18 October 1977) was a co-founding member of the RAF. Baader was involved in bank raids and arson. He was arrested and tried at Stammheim Prison alongside Gudrun Ensslin, Ulrike Meinhof and Jan-Carl Raspe, and given three sentences of life imprisonment. He died in Stammheim prison on 18 October 1977. Accounts of his death vary. Some state he committed suicide in prison using a handgun. Others claim he was murdered in an extrajudicial killing. He and Ensslin were lovers. Gudrun Ensslin (15 August 1940 – 18 October 1977) was a co-founding member of the RAF. She was involved in bank robbery|bank raids and arson. She helped free Baader from police custody on 30 April 1970. Ensslin was given three times life imprisonment when charged at Stammheim. She died in Stammheim prison on 18 October 1977. Accounts of her death vary. Some state she committed suicide in prison by hanging. Others claim she was murdered in an extrajudicial killing. She and Baader were lovers. Ulrike Meinhof (7 October 1934 – 9 May 1976) was a co-founding member of the RAF. She was a well-known journalist who wrote for and was editor of konkret. She was married to Klaus Rainer Röhl. She helped free Andreas Baader from police custody on 30 April 1970. She was involved in car theft, arson and bank robbery. She