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I remember seeing an art exhibit of paintings from the Weimar Republic. During this period, sexuality including homosexuality was pretty open and there were clubs and people who were openly gay or pretty close to it. These people carried the reputation into the Nazi era.
Also, people who were part of the same social circle, which was closely tied to the arts and entertainment, were often accused of being gay or at least 'decadent' regardless of their sexual orientation and they, too, were persecuted.
Glad you mentioned this. When cultures are breaking down it is common to see more overt sexual behavior. People here who haven't seen it could reference the film Cabaret for a picture of how sudden changes in culture, finances, attitudes towards sexuality, everything seems intertwined.
Yes, neighbors....and why?
Maybe to ingratiate them to the men in power, no matter who they were? Hard times.
I don't really think so, it was more of the "I am a good German" syndrome and must do my duty. and those people being arrested must have done something wrong or the authorities would not have come for t hem. kind of thing.
Neighbors would rat them out. The Nazis probably also scouted out places in big cities that were known or rumored to be gathering places for homosexuals or other "undesirables."
If you were a true and loyal German, you would report any undesirables, especially if they were hiding. This included those hiding these undesirables. The Hitler youth also indoctrinated their members to report anyone with questionable loyalty, including family. This climate of suspicision made it difficult to hid or hide someone from the Nazi's.
the males that act and talk effeminate were probably the easiest to spot
the type that talk and act like normal men were probably not as easy to identify
Herman Goering wore makeup, loved to play dress up with an array of historical costumes which he owned, wore dressing gowns with ermine and mink trimmings, and when the spirit moved him, would sometimes grab one of the waiters or assistants assigned to his hotel suite and start dancing with him. As head of the Luftwaffe he wore a unique uniform of baby blue colors. His captors during the Nuremberg Trials all described him as acting effeminate.
I remember seeing an art exhibit of paintings from the Weimar Republic. During this period, sexuality including homosexuality was pretty open and there were clubs and people who were openly gay or pretty close to it. These people carried the reputation into the Nazi era.
Also, people who were part of the same social circle, which was closely tied to the arts and entertainment, were often accused of being gay or at least 'decadent' regardless of their sexual orientation and they, too, were persecuted.
Absolutely.
I remember seeing an exhibit called "The Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals" that was on display here in Philadelphia that was sponsored by the US Holocaust Museum of Washington, DC. Before Hitler came to power, the gay community in Germany was very organized and rather open for that day and age. There were literally scores of gay and lesbian bars and nightclubs in Berlin and other German cities.
An interesting fact is that the largest gay organization in the world at that time - it was devoted both to scientific research and also civil rights was Berlin's Scientific Humanitarian Committee under the direction of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld. As soon as the Nazis rose to power they looted the place, torched all the books, seized the distinguished Dr. Hirschfeld and beat him up leaving the old gentleman bleeding in street to die (he did manage to survive and escape to the south of France.)
In the Third Reich, membership lists were seized, bars and clubs were raided, the arrested were interrogated, individuals were fingered and denounced by neighbors, etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mass Transit user
It was a very mean group of homosexuals that helped Hitler rise to power. Then once in power, Hitler turned on homosexuals in his effort to purify the German Aryan race.
Nonsense. BS. In the early years the Nazis exploited the support of people from all groups ... even collaborating Jews. The Nazis sometimes eliminated and smeared some of their earliest supporters such as Ernst Rohm by calling him a homosexual deviant. The Nazis were never supported by the well established gay community. Read the book "The Men With The Pink Triangle."
Tread lightly, folks. The thread has been cleaned up and inappropriate posts deleted. Please refrain from gay bashing and sophomoric jokes. This is the History forum, not a playground. Thanks.
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Showing loyalty was important. Let's not forget though that the Nazis were popular in Germany and many Germans shared their sentiments about Jews, communists, homosexuals, Gypsies, and other "untermenschen".
Exactly. Children were encouraged to turn in their parents, friends, relatives, for infractions against the regime or perceived infractions, as well as, anyone who was different. It is hard for me to conceive of such a horrible way to live...
I don't really think so, it was more of the "I am a good German" syndrome and must do my duty. and those people being arrested must have done something wrong or the authorities would not have come for t hem. kind of thing.
Are you saying the people that were turned in "must have done something wrong or the authorities would not have come for them...."?
All lot of the betrayals were pure vindictiveness, especially against the Jews. You are telling me that the Germans felt that they had to condemn jewish children to death because they may have done something wrong....?
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