LGBT+ history in 20th century Germany is a harrowing reflection of societal shifts under dramatically different regimes—from the progressive Weimar Republic, to the oppressive Nazi era, and the long road of post-war recovery. Let’s walk through the experiences of LGBT+ individuals in each of these eras and their enduring impact on history.
LGBT+ Acceptance in Weimar Germany: The First Homosexual Movement
During the Weimar Republic (1918-1933), LGBT+ communities found a surprisingly accepting environment. Despite the presence of Paragraph 175, a legal code criminalizing male homosexuality, Berlin emerged as a haven for sexual minorities. The city boasted around 100 gay clubs, making it one of the most vibrant LGBT+ hubs in Europe.
This period is often referred to as the First Homosexual Movement, marked by growing visibility and activism for LGBT+ rights. Public acceptance was relatively high, and organizations worked to repeal discriminatory laws, though these efforts ultimately failed. Still, Weimar Germany was the most progressive European state for LGBT+ individuals at that time.
The Institut für Sexualwissenschaft and Magnus Hirschfeld
A key figure in advancing LGBT+ rights and understanding was Magnus Hirschfeld, a gay Jewish physician and sexologist. In 1919, he founded the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft (Institute for Sexual Research), a pioneering clinic in Berlin. It became a center for sexual education, gender studies, and provided care for LGBT+ individuals.
Hirschfeld’s institute offered early gender-affirming procedures and housed a vast library of research on human sexuality. The institute became an important symbol of LGBT+ rights and scientific exploration during the Weimar era, and its contributions were groundbreaking for both medicine and social movements.
The Nazi Era: Brutality, Persecution, and the Pink Triangle
When the Nazi regime took control in 1933, the repression of LGBT+ individuals was swift and severe. One of the regime’s first acts was the raid on Hirschfeld’s institute on May 6, 1933, culminating in the public burning of over 20,000 books. The Nazis condemned the institute’s research as “intellectual garbage,” and many of those connected with it fled or were persecuted.
Paragraph 175 Enforcement
Under Nazi rule, Paragraph 175 was rigidly enforced. Between 5,000 and 15,000 men were convicted of homosexuality. These men were not just jailed; many were sent to concentration camps where they were tortured, castrated, and often murdered.
The Pink Triangle
Gay men in Nazi concentration camps were forced to wear pink triangles to mark their homosexuality, a symbol that condemned them to some of the harshest treatment from both guards and fellow prisoners.
- Many pink triangle prisoners were segregated into “sissy blocks” and subjected to brutal medical experiments, including attempts to “cure” homosexuality through castration and forced conversion therapies.
- Klinkerwerk, a subcamp of Sachsenhausen, witnessed one of the most horrific events when, in 1942, 200 gay men were systematically murdered.
Post-Nazi Germany: A Delayed Justice for LGBT+ Victims
After World War II, the nightmare was far from over for LGBT+ survivors. Unlike other victims of the Holocaust, gay men who had been convicted under Paragraph 175 were not liberated. Instead, many were forced to continue serving their sentences in post-war Germany.
It wasn’t until 1994 that Paragraph 175 was fully repealed in unified Germany, and in 2002, the German government finally pardoned men convicted of homosexuality during the Nazi era. These delays in justice represent a stark reminder of how LGBT+ survivors were marginalized even after the fall of the Nazi regime.
Conclusion
The story of LGBT+ people in 20th-century Germany is a reminder of both the progress and setbacks in the fight for human rights. From the vibrant queer culture of Weimar Berlin to the horrors of Nazi persecution, and the slow crawl to post-war justice, their experiences provide crucial insights into the resilience of marginalized communities.
This chapter of history should inspire ongoing learning and advocacy, ensuring that the struggles and triumphs of LGBT+ individuals are never forgotten.