The German Autumn (German: Deutscher Herbst) was a set of events in late 1977, associated with the kidnapping and murder of industrialist Hanns-Martin Schleyer, President of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA) and the Federation of German Industries (BDI), by the Red Army Faction (RAF), and the hijacking of the Lufthansa airplane "Landshut" by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). They demanded the release of ten RAF members detained at the Stammheim Prison plus two Palestinian compatriots held in Turkey and US$15 million in exchange for the hostages. The failed kidnapping and murder of the banker Jürgen Ponto on July 30, 1977 marked the beginning of the German Autumn. It ended on October 18, with the liberation of the "Landshut", the deaths of the leading figures of the first generation of the RAF in their prison cells, and the death of Schleyer.

The term "German Autumn" is derived from the 1978 film Deutschland im Herbst (Germany in Autumn), which is a German film-collage in the form of a short film with news-report format. An omnibus film, it collectively covered the social atmosphere during the time of the RAF, while offering different critical perspectives and arguments pertaining to the situation. The directors involved were Heinrich Böll, Hans Peter Cloos, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Alexander Kluge, Maxmiliane Mainka, Edgar Reitz, Katja Rupé, Volker Schlöndorff, Peter Schubert and Bernhard Sinkel. Kluge and Beate Mainka-Jellinghaus edited the film.

Carl Jackson (born September 18, 1953 in Louisville, Mississippi) is an American country and bluegrass musician. Jackson's first Grammy was awarded in 1992 for his duet album with John Starling titled "Spring Training." In 2003 Jackson produced the Grammy Award-winning CD titled Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers - a tribute to Ira and Charlie Louvin. He also recorded one of the songs on the CD, a collection of duets featuring such artists as James Taylor, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, and others.

Carl Jackson's musical career began in childhood. At the age of 14 he was invited to play banjo for Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys, one of the most respected bluegrass bands at that time. After five years with Jim and Jesse, Jackson tested the musical waters elsewhere before landing a job with Glen Campbell. Jackson remained in Campbell's band for 12 years.

Jackson continued to work in Nashville as a songwriter and musician. Between 1984 and 1985, he charted three singles on the Billboard country music charts, including the #44 hit "She's Gone, Gone, Gone". Jackson was also named Bluegrass music's MVP in 2006. He also earned the International Bluegrass Music Association's Song of the Year award in 1990 for "Little Mountain Church House", which was recorded by Ricky Skaggs and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.