Horst Afheldt

We great sadness we learned that Horst Afheldt, scientist and a long-term member of the German Pugwash Group died on March 7th 2016.

He was born on October 10th 1924 and studied physics and law in Hamburg.

From 1960 to 1970 he was Executive Director of the Federation of German Scientists (VDW) and a close collaborator of C. F. von Weizsäcker who was one of the founding members of the German Pugwash Group. Horst Afheldt represented the German Pugwash Group at many international meetings including the “Study Group on European Security” in the founding phase of Pugwash.

From 1970 to 1980 he was the head of a working group on security within the Max-Planck-Institute based in Starnberg, which studied the life conditions of the scientific-technical world, esp. nuclear armament and strategy, global economic and ecological problems and global governance.

From 1980 to 1989 he was head of a Max-Planck Research Unit in Starnberg which developed the concept of non-offensive defense and new proposals for arms controlin Europe.

Later on, he devoted his work politico-economic issues, which played an important role in the German discussion on the interaction of economy, labour and welfare under the conditions of globalization.

He was a key author of important books such as the study “War Consequences and War prevention” (1971) and the booklet “Defensive Defense” (1983).

His work focused on civil defense, nuclear strategy, consequences of a nuclear war in Europe and Non-Offensive defense. His contributions and intellectual sharpness were widely recognized within Germany and the Pugwash community.

In his free time he constructed his own sailing yacht and later on he undertook long sailing trips together with his wife.

We will commemorate his work by redoubling our efforts to work for peace.

The German Pugwash Committee and the Federation of German Scientists expresses its sincere and deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Horst Afheldt.