During the Holocaust, homosexual men were among the many groups persecuted by the Nazi regime. While the suffering of Jewish people was at the centre of Nazi genocide, the Nazis also targeted others they considered "undesirable," including Romani people, people with disabilities, political opponents, Jehovah's Witnesses, and homosexuals. The experiences of gay men during this period reveal a tragic chapter of history that remained largely overlooked for decades after the war.
The Nazi Party came to power in Germany in 1933. Its leaders promoted an ideology that emphasized racial purity, traditional gender roles, and population growth among those they considered "Aryan." The Nazis viewed homosexuality, particularly among men, as a threat because they believed gay men would not contribute to increasing the German population. They also falsely portrayed homosexuality as a moral weakness that undermined the strength of the nation.
A key tool in the persecution of homosexual men was Paragraph 175, a section of the German Criminal Code that criminalized sexual relations between men. Although Paragraph 175 existed before the Nazis came to power, the regime dramatically expanded its enforcement. In 1935, the law was broadened so that even suspected homosexual behaviour, not just sexual acts, could result in arrest.
Between 1933 and 1945, historians estimate that approximately 100,000 men were investigated under Paragraph 175. Around 50,000 were convicted and imprisoned. Thousands more were sent to concentration camps.
The exact number of homosexual men sent to concentration camps is uncertain, but estimates generally range from 5,000 to 15,000. Survival rates among these prisoners were low. Many died from disease, malnutrition, overwork, execution, or abuse.
Lesbians faced discrimination under Nazi rule as well, although their situation differed somewhat from that of gay men. Because Paragraph 175 applied only to men, lesbians were not usually prosecuted under that law. However, women suspected of homosexuality could still face persecution. Some were arrested as "asocials," lost employment opportunities, or were imprisoned for reasons connected to their sexuality and perceived nonconformity. Their experiences varied considerably and have received increasing scholarly attention in recent decades.
One of the most tragic aspects of this history is what happened after the war ended in 1945. Many homosexual survivors did not receive recognition as victims of Nazi persecution. Since Paragraph 175 remained in force in both East and West Germany for years after the war, some men who had been imprisoned by the Nazis were still considered criminals under German law. Unlike many other victim groups, they often received no compensation and found it difficult to speak publicly about their experiences.
It was not until the later twentieth century that greater attention was given to the persecution of homosexuals during the Holocaust. Historians, activists, and survivors worked to document what had happened. Memorials were established, and governments began acknowledging the injustice suffered by gay victims.
In 2002, the German government formally annulled many Nazi-era convictions of homosexual men. Further legal measures followed, and Germany later issued apologies and compensation to surviving victims. Today, the pink triangle, once a badge of persecution, has been reclaimed by many LGBTQ+ communities as a symbol of remembrance, resistance, and pride.
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