Apparatus for connecting tubes in a sterile manner, having - a first accommodating device for accommodating a first tube; - a second accommodating device for accommodating a second tube; - heating means for heating a separating region of a first tube arranged on the first accommodating device and a separating region of a second tube arranged on the second accommodating device; and - severing means for severing the first and the second tubes (1a, 1b) in the heated separating region in each case to give a first and a second tube portion (100a, 100b, 101a, 101b), wherein - the first and the second accommodating devices (20a, 20b) are each designed to retain the first tube portion (100a, 100b) in each case such that it extends at least to some extent along a plane, and - at least one of the two accommodating devices (20a, 20b) is mounted such that it can be rotated about an axis of rotation which runs at least more or less perpendicularly to the plane along which the first tube portion (100a, 100b) extends, and wherein - the apparatus is designed such that, once the first and the second tubes (1a, 1b) have been severed, an end of the first tube portion of the first tube can be brought into mechanical contact, the first and/or the second accommodating device (20a, 20b) being rotated about the axis of rotation in the process, with an end of the first tube portion of the second tube, characterized in that the severing means comprise movement-generating means for generating movement of the first and/or the second accommodating device (20a, 20b), wherein a movement of the first and/or of the second accommodating device (20a, 20b) causes the first and/or the second tube to be subjected to a tensile and/or shearing force, and therefore said tube is severed into the first and the second tube portions in the heated separating region. - a first accommodating device for accommodating a first tube; - a second accommodating device for accommodating a second tube; - heating means for heating a separating region of a first tube arranged on the first accommodating device and a separating region of a second tube arranged on the second accommodating device; and - severing means for severing the first and the second tubes (1a, 1b) in the heated separating region in each case to give a first and a second tube portion (100a, 100b, 101a, 101b), wherein - the first and the second accommodating devices (20a, 20b) are each designed to retain the first tube portion (100a, 100b) in each case such that it extends at least to some extent along a plane, and - at least one of the two accommodating devices (20a, 20b) is mounted such that it can be rotated about an axis of rotation which runs at least more or less perpendicularly to the plane along which the first tube portion (100a, 100b) extends, and wherein - the apparatus is designed such that, once the first and the second tubes (1a, 1b) have been severed, an end of the first tube portion of the first tube can be brought into mechanical contact, the first and/or the second accommodating device (20a, 20b) being rotated about the axis of rotation in the process, with an end of the first tube portion of the second tube, - the first and the second accommodating devices (20a, 20b) are each designed to retain the first tube portion (100a, 100b) in each case such that it extends at least to some extent along a plane, and - at least one of the two accommodating devices (20a, 20b) is mounted such that it can be rotated about an axis of rotation which runs at least more or less perpendicularly to the plane along which the first tube portion (100a, 100b) extends, and wherein - the apparatus is designed such that, once the first and the second tubes (1a, 1b) have been severed, an end of the first tube portion of the first tube can be brought into mechanical contact, the first and/or the second accommodating device (20a, 20b) being rotated about the axis of rotation in the process, with an end of the first tube portion of the second tube,