De dood van Rudi Friedrich (1963-2025) laat een enorme leegte achter
Connection e.V., de gespecialiseerde Duitse organisatie die wereldwijd dienstweigeraars en deserteurs juridisch en moreel ondersteunt, rouwt om het overlijden van haar medeoprichter, directeur en vriend Rudi Friedrich. Rudi kwam op maandag 14 juli 2025 tijdens een vakantie in Noord-Italië om het leven bij een bergwandeling in de buurt van het Comomeer. Toen een Italiaans bergreddingsteam hem terugvond, kon het alleen nog zijn dood vaststellen. Een in memoriam door Franz Nadler en Thomas Stiefel, Connection-medewerkers van het eerste uur.
Hij laat een enorme leegte achter in onze internationaal actieve vereniging, want Rudi was er niet alleen het gezicht van, maar ook een internationaal bekende activist, motivator en drijvende kracht achter het wereldwijde netwerk van organisaties op het gebied van gewetensbezwaren tegen verplichte militaire dienst, desertie en asielbescherming voor deze vaak vervolgde groep van mensen.
We hebben een moedige medestrijder voor de vrede verloren, maar we zullen de strijd voor een alomvattend recht op gewetensbezwaar en de bescherming van gewetensbezwaarden, dienstweigeraars en deserteurs wereldwijd voortzetten.
Rudi Friedrich was the youngest of six sons in a Protestant pastor’s family who moved back to northern Germany from Brazil. After leaving school, he first underwent an apprenticeship as a brick mason in Celle (Niedersachsen), refused military service, took up civilian service and then studied sociology in Frankfurt.
As a member of the DFG-VK, (German Peace Society – United War Resisters) he criticised the then prevailing view of the GDR (East Germany) as a ‘peace power’. In 1982, he moved from Frankfurt to join the group in Offenbach.
Together we developed a broad understanding of conscientious objection as active action against war, preparation for war, compulsory military service and also civilian service, which is nothing more than state-ordered forced labour.
Several editions of the advice brochure ‘Drückeberger’ (nvdr: letterlijk ‘Ontduiker’) were published, and in 1989, together with the self-organisation of those doing civilian service, SOdZdl, the book ‘Was gibt es Schöneres als anderen Menschen zu helfen?’ was published (‘What could be greater than helping other people? – Civilian service, forced labour and the social sector’).
Although he himself repeatedly maintained contact with the conscientious objection movement in the GDR, he was initially sceptical about the complete internationalisation of the work.
This changed when he became managing director of the DFG-VK Hessen at the end of the 1980s. Dozens of US soldiers did not want to be deployed to the Gulf War and sought help from the counselling service he had set up there. With this experience, things then moved forward in Offenbach.
Since 2000 the Southern Africa working group, which had previously been led by others in the group, and then KDV im Krieg (‘Conscientious Objection in War’) were integrated into the organisation Connection e.V., founded in 1993, and Rudi became its full-time managing director.
Since then, the proliferation of new wars, in which Germany became increasingly involved, and the precarious situation of many male and female conscientious objectors have led to an enormous rise in our activities. Here are just a few examples.
There is the fight for human rights in Turkey, which has been going on for decades now. The hundred thousand or so who fled from military service in former Yugoslavia, the help for US soldiers in the Middle East wars in the that have been waged time and again.
There is the support for conscientious objectors in Israel, Angola, Eritrea, Latin America, South Korea and Thailand. And it may suffice just to mention, as it is probably widely known already, the comprehensive work on the Ukraine war.
It was always Rudi who established and maintained contacts, organised visits and round trips. He did not shy away from contact with the media, celebrities and decision-makers. He was a genius at networking.
He also prepared expert reports for numerous asylum proceedings, including those in other countries, for lawyers and institutions. In this field he (developed into) acquired the stature of a valued expert.
Rudi’s musical talent should also be emphasised, which he demonstrated with his friend Talib Richard Vogl in two scenic readings, including ‘Run Soldier Run’.
With tireless promotional activities, we managed to raise donations so that we could not only support the groups in other countries, but also expand our own infrastructure. It was not least due to Rudi’s commitment that Connection e.V. became an organisation recognised worldwide as an important one, which was also reflected in various peace prizes.
It soon became clear that this work could no longer be carried out by him alone. Rudi wanted to hand over his position as managing director in about two years’ time. The work was therefore spread across several shoulders.
There is now a person responsible for social media; a second member of the management team, a Connection representative (funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust) who is doing advocacy both at the UN and at the European institutions. More recently we have a Russian lawyer in charge of international networking in particular.
The office is also no longer located in Rudi and Karin’s private flat, but in a modern office building at the Ostpol Gründercampus in Offenbach.
While Rudi was a driving force behind the ideas, he was not alone. Even if there were times when we met with him only or with a few people, the number of active members has risen steadily and currently stands at around 15. They also contribute important ideas to the work and help support it.
We are infinitely saddened by the loss of Rudi. He was an irreplaceable friend who was able to mediate in the differences that cropped up sometimes, even amongst ourselves.
His death marks a turning point. But the work will continue. How it can be done is still unclear in some areas. However, the staff and volunteers are unanimous: the work for conscientious objectors worldwide, for an unrestricted human right to conscientious objection and the right to asylum are important to us all.
We therefore ask for your support so that Connection e.V. can continue to pursue this goal. Thank you for this as well.
We have lost a fellow campaigner for peace, but we will continue the fight for a comprehensive right to conscientious objection and the protection of conscientious objectors, draft evaders and deserters worldwide.
Our thoughts are especially with his wife Karin and his family.
Franz Nadler and Thomas Stiefel (31 July 2025)
Franz Nadler and Thomas Stiefel are co-founders of Connection e.V. and on the board of the organisation in Offenbach (Main), Hessen, Germany.
https://en.connection-ev.org/article-4516
The Memorial Service for Rudi Friedrich in Offenbach (4 October 2025)
Conscientious objectors and guests from the United Kingdom, Norway, Austria, Italy, Russia, Turkey, and Israel joined us in commemorating the long-time executive director Rudi Friedrich, who passed away tragically in July this year.
The memorial took place at the association’s headquarters, in the Quartiersaal Ostpol in Offenbach.
With only a few speeches but many musical performances by amateur musicians connected to Rudi, the afternoon and evening became a celebration not only for his relatives but also for the companions and supporters of Connection e.V., the NGO he helped build and lead.
Rudi also played trumpet in the Big Band of the Offenbach Music School, so it was fitting that three musicians from this band paid him a final tribute.
Rudi Friedrich was a respected and valued expert and activist who fought worldwide, on every level, for the realization of the right to conscientious objection. This right is a human right and must be upheld regardless of political considerations.
Connection e.V. continues to work with full commitment for asylum in Germany for deserters from the war in Ukraine and from other wars.
https://en.connection-ev.org/article-4567
Lees ook:
Rundbrief »KDV im Krieg«, Oktober 2025 von Connection e.V. (22.10.2025) In Erinnerung an Rudi https://de.connection-ev.org/article-4578
Lees verder (inhoud oktober 2025)
