Paragraph 175 was a German statute that criminalized sexual relations between men. It did not criminalize sexual relations between women. Paragraph 175 predated the Nazi regime. However, the Nazis revised Paragraph 175 in 1935 to make it broader and harsher. It was one of the main tools that the Nazis used to persecute gay men and men accused of sexual relations with other men.
Explore the ID Cards to learn more about personal experiences during the Holocaust
Find articles, photos, maps, films, and more listed alphabetically
How and why was the Holocaust possible?
We would like to thank Crown Family Philanthropies and the Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation for supporting the ongoing work to create content and resources for the Holocaust Encyclopedia. View the list of all donors.
![Assault troops approach Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. [LCID: sc078]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/c2a00178-d908-4cbe-bf96-e506a38ad98a.jpg.pagespeed.ce.eParNtuh61.jpg)
![Illustration from an antisemitic children's primer. [LCID: 10640c]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/4c6348d1-d3e6-4be3-aae5-b12761f4f20a.jpg.pagespeed.ce.ZYVA_641w6.jpg)
![Deportation of Romani (Gypsy) families from Vienna to Poland. [LCID: 22005]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/bd14360a-6cc2-4b64-8c68-32430f2350ee.jpg.pagespeed.ce.8cLU0l8qWq.jpg)
![A writer from Duesseldorf who was arrested for homosexuality. [LCID: 80370]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/df606ccb-213b-4c8b-b902-760bc95d3b7e.jpg.pagespeed.ce.uqWLm6vDWg.jpg)
![A couple dances at the "Eldorado," a nightclub frequented by members of Berlin's homosexual community. [LCID: 01673]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/9a0c94ef-70af-47d4-a5aa-c481819c45cd.jpg.pagespeed.ce.vvW8A0s-f8.jpg)
![Adolf Hitler stands with an SA unit during a Nazi parade in Weimar [LCID: 02286]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/1e5a14c5-9521-4637-845a-55f423097328.jpg.pagespeed.ce.nXwncuV_1R.jpg)
