Rote Hilfe e.V.

Rote Hilfe e.V. ("Red Aid," abbreviated RH)^[2] is a German association that supports left‑wing activists who come into conflict with the law in the course of their political activities.^[3] 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),^[1] the largest — organisation within the German left‑wing scene. Its membership has grown significantly in recent years. The association comprises around 50 local and regional groups and maintains a federal office in Göttingen.^[4]

Red Aid was founded in 1975, although local groups calling themselves "Rote Hilfe" had begun to appear in the late 1960s.^[5][6] 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).^[7][8] Today, roughly half of Red Aid's budget is used to cover the legal fees, fines, and expenses of left‑wing activists and prisoners.^[6] It also publishes a quarterly journal, Die Rote Hilfe ("The Red Aid"), along with other publications, and organises events.^[6] The organisation is headquartered in Göttingen.^[4] 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.^[3]

• International Red Aid

• Official website (in German)