Rote Hilfe e.V.
Rote Hilfe e.V. ("Red Aid," abbreviated RH) is a German association that supports left‑wing activists who come into conflict with the law in the course of their political activities. It describes itself as a "party‑independent, cross‑current left‑wing protection and solidarity organisation." With a history of more than 100 years, Rote Hilfe is the oldest — and, with around 19,000 members (as of 2025), the largest — organisation within the German left‑wing scene. Its membership has grown significantly in recent years.
Rote Hilfe e.V.
Foto: Bernd Schwabe in Hannover · CC BY 3.0
- Name
- Rote Hilfe e.V.
- Founded
- 1975
- Headquarters
- Göttingen
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Documentary summary
Rote Hilfe e.V. ("Red Aid," abbreviated RH) is a German association that supports left‑wing activists who come into conflict with the law in the course of their political activities. It describes itself as a "party‑independent, cross‑current left‑wing protection and solidarity organisation." With a history of more than 100 years, Rote Hilfe is the oldest — and, with around 19,000 members (as of 2025), the largest — organisation within the German left‑wing scene. Its membership has grown significantly in recent years.
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gnd · 16036355-X · wikidata · Q897094 · wikipedia · Rote Hilfe e.V.
In this article
Overview
Overview
The association comprises around 50 local and regional groups and maintains a federal office in Göttingen.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Rote Hilfe e.V. Red Aid • Type — registered association • Founded — 1975 • Board Of Directors — Florian Kaufmann Marie Melior Anja Sommerfeld • Location — Göttingen • Region Served — Germany • Num Members — 19,000 • Num Members Year — 2025 • Website — www.rote-hilfe.de
History
History
• Illustration — Rote Hilfe information booth in Hanover (2013) Red Aid was founded in 1975, although local groups calling themselves "Rote Hilfe" had begun to appear in the late 1960s. The organisation sees itself as a successor to the Weimar-era Rote Hilfe. In the 1970s, it worked on behalf of Red Army Faction (RAF) prisoners, and a small number of RH members later joined the RAF or similar groups (e.g., Angelika Speitel and Hans-Joachim Klein). Today, roughly half of Red Aid's budget is used to cover the legal fees, fines, and expenses of left‑wing activists and prisoners. It also publishes a quarterly journal, Die Rote Hilfe ("The Red Aid"), along with other publications, and organises events. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz, BfV) asserts that Red Aid plays a supportive role within left‑wing extremist milieus, contributing to their cohesion and persistence.
Identity
Identity
What the record establishes about Rote Hilfe e.V. Rote Hilfe e.V. Rote Hilfe e.V. The identifiers under which Rote Hilfe e.V. may be traced in institutional catalogues.
Institutional history
Dated record
Institutional history
The full dated record · 2 entries
1975
Rote Hilfe e.V. established.
1975
Rote Hilfe e.V. is recorded from 1975.
Places
Named by the record
Places
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- Germany
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Rote Hilfe e.V.”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q897094: Rote Hilfe e.V.
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 16036355-X, Rote Hilfe e.V..
General reference · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Citations
References
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authority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 16036355-X, Rote Hilfe e.V..Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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