Transgender people in Nazi Germany

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Transgender people in Nazi Germany refers to the experiences and persecution of transgender individuals during the period of Nazi rule in Germany from 1933 to 1945. The Nazi regime's policies and actions had a profound and devastating impact on the lives of transgender people, who were subjected to severe discrimination, violence, and persecution.

Background

During the Weimar Republic, Germany was known for its relatively progressive attitudes towards gender and sexuality. The Institut für Sexualwissenschaft (Institute for Sexual Research) in Berlin, founded by Magnus Hirschfeld, was a pioneering center for the study of sexuality and gender. The institute provided support and medical care for transgender individuals, including hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries.

Nazi Persecution

When the Nazi Party came to power in 1933, they implemented policies that targeted various marginalized groups, including transgender people. The Nazis viewed non-conforming gender identities and sexual orientations as threats to their ideal of a racially pure and morally upright society.

Destruction of the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft

One of the first acts of the Nazi regime was the destruction of the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft. On May 6, 1933, Nazi students raided the institute, looted its archives, and publicly burned its extensive library of books and research materials. This event marked the beginning of a systematic campaign against transgender people and other sexual minorities.

Legal and Social Repression

The Nazi regime enforced strict gender norms and criminalized behaviors that deviated from these norms. Transgender individuals were often arrested, imprisoned, and sent to concentration camps. The regime's policies included the enforcement of Paragraph 175, which criminalized homosexual acts between men and was used to persecute transgender women who were perceived as homosexual men.

Medical Experiments

Transgender people, along with other marginalized groups, were subjected to inhumane medical experiments in concentration camps. These experiments were often conducted without consent and involved extreme physical and psychological abuse.

Legacy

The persecution of transgender people in Nazi Germany had long-lasting effects on the transgender community. The destruction of the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft and the loss of its research set back the progress of transgender rights and medical care for decades. The stories of transgender individuals who suffered under the Nazi regime are an important part of the broader history of the Holocaust and the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

See Also

• LGBT history in Germany
• Persecution of homosexuals in Nazi Germany
• Magnus Hirschfeld
• Institut für Sexualwissenschaft
• Paragraph 175
• Nazi concentration camps