The left-wing support organization “Rote Hilfe” (Red Aid) is facing an existential crisis after two banks abruptly terminated its accounts within a matter of days, according to reports from “taz” and “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. Hartmut Brückner, a federal executive board member of the organization, stated the move poses a direct threat to their ability to operate.
While the banks have declined to publicly comment, citing banking secrecy and data protection regulations, the stated reason given to Rote Hilfe was “regulatory adjustments” – implying alterations to comply with new guidelines or legislation. The accounts are slated for closure within the next two months.
Rote Hilfe, one of the largest organizations within Germany’s left-wing milieu with approximately 19,000 members, has a long history of providing legal and practical assistance to left-wing activists, prisoners and defendants facing politically charged trials. The organization has been under observation by the German domestic intelligence agency (Verfassungsschutz) for years, which classifies it as a left-wing extremist organization. The agency accuses Rote Hilfe of undermining the rule of law by questioning its impartiality and discrediting security services.
Rote Hilfe suspects the sudden account closures are linked to the recent designation of “Antifa Ost” as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States. This designation, which subjects individuals associated with the group to exclusion from the U.S. financial system and inclusion on a sanctions list, targets a group of antifascist activists accused of violent actions against right-wing individuals in Eastern Germany and Budapest. Rote Hilfe has historically provided support and launched solidarity campaigns for those affiliated with Antifa Ost, creating a direct connection, in their view, to the banking action.
“It’s highly probable that the account terminations are related to the U.S. designation of Antifa Ost” Brückner asserted, strongly criticizing the development. He warned that, if substantiated, the action represents a significant and potentially unlawful intrusion by the United States into Germany’s political sphere and civil society.
Brückner further characterized the banks’ actions – “two banks capitulating without discernible legal necessity” – as a “disturbing sign that authoritarian politics are increasingly being enforced through technical and economic infrastructure.
In response, Rote Hilfe has filed an injunction with the Göttingen Regional Court against the account closures, arguing the organization operates under a legally enshrined public welfare mandate. The legal challenge underscores the deepening concerns about the potential for external political pressure to impact German civil society organizations and their ability to function freely. The unfolding situation raises broader questions about the scope of U.S. influence within Germany’s financial sector and its implications for the protection of civil rights.