emergency aid / defense of others
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emergency aid
Immediate help and support for people who are in an acute emergency, for example after natural disasters, in wars, or in accidents.
Hilfsorganisationen leisteten nach dem Hurrikan Nothilfe für die obdachlos gewordenen Familien.
Aid organizations provided emergency aid for the families left homeless after the hurricane.
defense of others
In the legal sense, the justified act of helping another person who is being unlawfully attacked. It is closely related to self-defense, but refers to protecting third parties.
Als er sah, wie die Frau überfallen wurde, handelte er in Nothilfe und schlug den Angreifer in die Flucht.
When he saw the woman being attacked, he acted in defense of another person and drove the attacker away.
The word is composed of 'Not' (a situation of great danger or difficulty) and 'Hilfe' (help). So it literally means 'help in an emergency situation.'
Nach der Überschwemmung war schnelle Nothilfe nötig.
After the flood, quick emergency aid was necessary.
The meaning depends strongly on the context. In connection with disasters, war, or aid organizations, it means humanitarian aid. In the context of an attack on a person, it refers to the legal term.
Das Rote Kreuz organisiert die Nothilfe für die Erdbebenopfer.
The Red Cross is organizing emergency aid for the earthquake victims.
In the meaning 'humanitarian aid,' the verb 'leisten' (to provide/render) is almost always used. The fixed phrase is 'Nothilfe leisten' (to provide emergency aid).
Viele Freiwillige reisten in die Region, um Nothilfe zu leisten.
Many volunteers traveled to the region to provide emergency aid.
This meaning is a technical term from legal studies. In this context, the formulation 'in Nothilfe handeln' (to act in defense of others) is often used.
Der Zeuge handelte in Nothilfe, als er den Dieb stoppte.
The witness acted in defense of others when he stopped the thief.
self-defense
Notwehr and Nothilfe both refer to the justified defense against a present, unlawful attack. With Notwehr, the person affected protects themselves or someone else. Nothilfe, by contrast, specifically means protecting another person who is being attacked. Choose Nothilfe when you intervene as an outsider.
Der Passant griff in Nothilfe ein, als der Angreifer die Frau bedrohte.
The passerby intervened to protect the woman when the attacker threatened her.
Die Frau wehrte sich in Notwehr gegen den Angreifer.
The woman defended herself against the attacker in self-defense.
