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<p>An official order incarcerating the accused in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp for the "offence" of homosexuality. Germany, July 1944. </p> <p>The Nazis posed as moral crusaders who wanted to stamp out what they labeled as the "vice" of homosexuality  in order to help Germany win the racial struggle.  They <a href="/narrative/4631">persecuted homosexuals</a> as part of their so-called moral crusade to racially and culturally purify Germany. </p>

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persecution of gays and lesbians

As part of the Nazis’ attempt to purify German society and propagate an “Aryan master race,” they condemned homosexuals as “socially aberrant.” Soon after taking office on January 30, 1933, Hitler banned all gay and lesbian organizations. Brownshirted storm troopers raided the institutions and gathering places of homosexuals. While this subculture had flourished in the relative freedom of the 1920s, Nazi tactics greatly weakened it and drove it underground.

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All Content Tagged 'persecution of gays and lesbians'

Robert Oelbermann
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Robert Oelbermann
<p>An official order incarcerating the accused in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp for the "offence" of homosexuality. Germany, July 1944. </p> <p>The Nazis posed as moral crusaders who wanted to stamp out what they labeled as the "vice" of homosexuality  in order to help Germany win the racial struggle.  They <a href="/narrative/4631">persecuted homosexuals</a> as part of their so-called moral crusade to racially and culturally purify Germany. </p>
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Incarcerated for homosexuality
<p>Portrait of <a href="/narrative/4634">Robert T. Odeman</a>, author and actor who was imprisoned in 1937 for 27 months for <a href="/narrative/4631">homosexuality</a>. In 1942, he was deported to <a href="/narrative/6810">Sachsenhausen</a> concentration camp where he was a prisoner for three years. Berlin, Germany, before 1937.</p>
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Portrait of author and actor Robert T. Odeman
<p>Interior designer from Duesseldorf who was charged with <a href="/narrative/4631">homosexuality</a> and imprisoned for 18 months. Duesseldorf, Germany, date uncertain.</p>
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An interior designer imprisoned for homosexuality
Gad Beck
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Gad Beck
<p>A writer from Duesseldorf who was arrested for homosexuality. Duesseldorf, Germany, 1938. [RW 58-61940]</p> <p>The Nazis posed as moral crusaders who wanted to stamp out what they labeled as the "vice" of homosexuality  in order to help Germany win the <a href="/narrative/3508">racial</a> struggle.  They <a href="/narrative/4631">persecuted homosexuals</a> as part of their so-called moral crusade to racially and culturally purify Germany. </p>
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Persecution of Homosexuals in the Third Reich
Robert T. Odeman
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Robert T. Odeman
Harry Pauly
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Harry Pauly
Karl Lange
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Karl Lange
<p>A couple dances at the "Eldorado," a nightclub frequented by members of Berlin's <a href="/narrative/4631">homosexual community</a>. The nightclub, along with other similar establishments, was closed by the Nazi government in the spring of 1933. Photograph taken in Berlin, Germany, 1929.</p>
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A couple dances at the "Eldorado" nightclub
<p>Identification pictures of a bartender from Duisburg who was arrested under Paragraph 175. Duisburg, Germany, August 27, 1936.</p>
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Identification photos of a man arrested for homosexuality
<p>A writer from Duesseldorf who was arrested for homosexuality. Duesseldorf, Germany, 1938. [RW 58-61940]</p> <p>The Nazis posed as moral crusaders who wanted to stamp out what they labeled as the "vice" of homosexuality  in order to help Germany win the <a href="/narrative/3508">racial</a> struggle.  They <a href="/narrative/4631">persecuted homosexuals</a> as part of their so-called moral crusade to racially and culturally purify Germany. </p>
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Arrested for homosexuality
<p>Identification pictures of a prisoner, accused of homosexuality, who arrived at the Auschwitz camp on June 6, 1941. He died there a year later. Auschwitz, Poland.</p>
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Identification photos of prisoner accused of homosexuality
<p>Identification pictures of a prisoner, accused of homosexuality, recently arrived at the Auschwitz camp. Auschwitz, Poland, between 1940 and 1945.</p>
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Identification photos of a prisoner accused of homosexuality
<p>A couple dances at the "Eldorado," a nightclub frequented by members of Berlin's <a href="/narrative/4631">homosexual community</a>. The nightclub, along with other similar establishments, was closed by the Nazi government in the spring of 1933. Photograph taken in Berlin, Germany, 1929.</p>
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Lesbians and the Third Reich
<p>Gerhard and Margot's mother came from a Protestant family. She met her future husband when she went to work in the telephone exchange at his company. She converted to Judaism in 1920. The couple married in 1920, and in 1923 had their twins Gerhard and Margot. Both Gerhard and Margot would become active in Jewish youth movements, and took on Hebrew names (<a href="/narrative/3230">Gad</a> and Miriam). </p> <p>On February 17, 1943, Gad was ordered to report to the temporary internment camp established at a former Jewish community building on the <a href="/narrative/11569">Rosenstrasse</a>. He was detained there until March 6, when the group was released following a demonstration.</p> <p>Later, in the spring of 1943 Gad joined the <em>Chug Halutzi</em>, a clandestine group of Jewish youth in Berlin, most of whom were living in hiding. Because Gad had contacts among both Christians and homosexuals, he was able to arrange hiding places for members of his group. </p>
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Portrait of Margot (Miriam) and Gerhard (Gad) Beck

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