Silke Makowski | History of Rote Hilfe

„Schafft Rote Hilfe!“, „Helft!“, „Solidarität organisieren!“: slogans and logos have changed over the course of Rote Hilfe’s hundred-year history. What remained unchanged was the practice of supporting left-wing activists against state repression – financially, legally and through public relations work. In 1986, several predecessor organisations gave rise to today’s cross-current Rote Hilfe e.V., which has since undergone new thematic and structural changes – and has asserted itself in an increasingly harsh climate. Most recently, it was confronted with the cancellation of its accounts by GLS-Bank and Sparkasse.

Silke Makowski is on the board of the Hans Litten Archive, which is dedicated to the history of solidarity organisations. The freelance journalist is the author of a brochure on Red Aid in illegal times from 1933 as well as other publications.

An event organised by the Fritz Bauer Forum in cooperation with Rote Hilfe Local Group Bochum