Andreas Ruth (Friedrich); Daughter: Hess Karin

Andreas-Friedrich, Ruth Friedrich, Karin Following her divorce, freelance journalist Ruth Andreas-Friedrich lived at no. 6 Hünensteig Street in Berlin’s Steglitz neighborhood with her daughter Karin and her long-time companion, Moscow-born conductor Leo Borchard. With the rise of the Nazis to power, Ruth became active in a group of opponents to the regime, who initially engaged in a fairly mild form of resistance – such as passing political information to people abroad, and tearing down Nazi posters. However, when the regime stepped up its anti-Semitic measures after 1938, the group began helping Jews who were threatened with deportation. Over time, this little resistance group – which came to be known as “Uncle Emil” – assisted “illegals” with accommodations, false papers and food ration stamps. From 1940 onwards, Karin Friedrich also became actively involved. The blond “Aryan” looking girl was probably the most suitable person for carrying out dangerous errands. From the autumn of 1943 onwards, a frequent visitor to the Hünensteig address was Konrad Latte, a Jewish musician who had gone underground. He took conducting lessons from Leo Borchard, and could always get a meal or food stamps from Ruth and her daughter. Through Latte, the two women also made the acquaintance of Harald Poelchau,* the Berlin-Tegel prison chaplain. Poelchau sent them persecuted individuals, Jews and opponents of the regime alike, who needed help. In the spring of 1945, Ralph and Rita Neumann, a Jewish sister and brother who had just escaped from detention, spent the night in Ruth’s home. With the group’s support, she was able to obtain forged food ration cards and Dutch passports for them. The Neumanns, as well as Konrad Latte, survived. After the war, Ruth Andreas-Friedrich published her 1938-1945 diary entries. On August 12, 2002, Yad Vashem recognized Ruth Andreas-Friedrich as Righteous Among the Nations. On May 30, 2004, Yad Vashem recognized Karin Friedrich as RighteousAmong the Nations.