[2] In World War II he served on the Eastern Front, being wounded by a bullet in the right arm and in the head by a grenade fragment.

Yet Bastian was also an opponent of the planned stationing of medium-range missiles with nuclear warheads in Europe and joined the peace movement.

[4] In 1980, he outlined those views in a memorandum to the West German government, asking to retire in the face of what he considered unacceptable military policies; his request was rejected and he resigned.

Neither Bastian nor Kelly left any written message or other evidence useful to explain the reason of the homicide-suicide.

Theories have been put forward that Bastian was afraid of an imminent opening of Stasi files revealing his role as an agent of the East German secret police, but no such evidence has emerged.