On May 27, 1971, the most serious train accident in the BRD to this date happened in Radevormwald. A freight train collides head-on with a fully loaded rail bus. 46 people lose their lives in the accident, including 41 children and young people between the ages of 14 and 16 who are returning from a school trip. The entire republic shares in the fate of the people, and private donations totaling 600,000 Deutschmark are received. The heads of the state travel to the area to attend the funeral.