Men who had been arrested twice, for breaking a law that had been on the books in germany since 1871, and had been sent to prison twice, were then sent to dachau for a minimum of 6 months for. Section 5 offences committed abroad with specific domestic connection. A national prohibition, paragraph 175, was added to the reich penal code in 1871. The symbol you show in your question stands for section in a law or code. Lgbt politics in a europeanized germany european union studies. In march, 2019, the german government again revised its approach to paragraph 175 restitutions. Gay men convicted under nazi law paragraph 175 will have. Please login or register to borrow, download, or purchase resources. On april, 1939, josef was arrested for homosexual activity as defined by paragraph 175, the german law similar to austrias statute 129. At the turn of the century, teddy recognized the importance of remembrance and praised rob epstein and jeffrey friedmans paragraph 175, an outstanding documentary about the dreadful german law criminalizing homosexuality.
Almost two decades later, historians have shown how homosexuals suffered under national socialism and many have fought for. Part i with one changed paragraph 175 in german law concerning homosexuality, both men and women were persecuted and marginalized. Soon after their liberation, he is rearrested under the same nazi law. In 2017, the german government finally voted to annul all convictions made under paragraph 175 and to pay restitutions directly and specifically to those who had been convicted andor jailed because of the law. Paragraph 175 had been part of german criminal code from time of the german empire under kaiser wilhelm i. The holocaustvictimshomosexuals wikibooks, open books for. White badge with an inverted red triangle and number 1896. When paragraph 175 of the german penal code was abolished 25 years ago, homosexuality ceased to be separately regulated.
Germany is compensating men who were investigated under its. This put an end to the legal persecution of male homosexuals in germany, which had lasted more than a century. Reviews the nearly 100yearlong discussion over paragraph 175 of german law. Oct 10, 2016 news world europe german government to pay 30m in compensation to gay men convicted under historical sex laws. The gay men were arrested by the nazis for the crime of homosexuality under paragraph 175, the sodomy provision of the german penal code, dating back to 1871. It was based on an 1871 statute, revised in 1935, article 6, 175, which punished indecent acts between men. His reputation had been tarnished during the last years of his office by his weak reaction to the building of the berlin wall, the infamous spiegel affair that raised the issue of state censorship once again, and growing diplomatic problems created by his unwillingness to officially. Paragraph 175 was a provision of the german criminal code from 15 may 1871 to 10 march 1994.
A special session of the nazicontrolled reichstag passed both laws at the partys rally in nuremberg, germany. Jun 22, 2017 berlin ap german lawmakers on thursday approved a plan to annul the convictions of thousands of gay men under a law criminalizing homosexuality that was enforced enthusiastically in postworld war ii west germany. During the trial of akayesu, the ictr affirmed that sexual violence, including rape, fell under paragraph b of the convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide, as the rapes had been carried out with the sole intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a specific group. Parliaments lower house voted unanimously for the bill to cancel convictions under paragraph 175. The amendment to the law for the prevention of offspring with hereditary diseases dated june 26, 1935, allowed castration indicated by reason of crime for men convicted under paragraph 175 if the men consented. Fornication against nature made between men or people with animals is punishable by imprisonment, also may remove civil rights. Paragraph 175 in its 1871 form was largely based on paragraph 143 of the 1794 prussian criminal code. Repeal of old antigay law urged in germany news dw. Paragraph 175, using new and archival film, family photographs and narration by the actor rupert everett, takes its title from a portion of the german penal code enacted in 1871. Gays and lesbians united states holocaust memorial museum. Unnatural fornication, whether between persons of the male sex or of humans with beasts, is punished with imprisonment of six months to four years, with the further punishment of a prompt loss of civil rights.
She now has to find the strength and courage to set him free. Jewish doctor magnus hirschfeld had cofounded the scientifichumanitarian committee wissenschaftlichhumanitares komitee, whk in berlin in 1897 to campaign against the notorious paragraph 175 law that made sex between men illegal. Paragraph 175 is a lgbt documentary film released in 2000, directed by rob epstein and jeffrey friedman language english. Those homosexuals who survived found liberation by british and american soldiers of short. Apart from the fine casting of conrad veidt in the lead and good picture quality, this film goes out of its way to show how unfair and harsh paragraph 175 of the law was, leading to many cases of blackmail of homosexuals and suicide by homosexual victims of. This law gave german judges the power to order compulsory castrations in cases involving rape, defilement, illicit sex acts with children paragraph 176, coercion to commit sex offenses paragraph 177, the committing of indecent acts in public including homosexual acts paragraph 183, murder or manslaughter of a victim paragraphs 223226. The legacy of paragraph 175 students study the legacy of paragraph 175 of the german constitution, which the nazis used to systematically persecute homosexuals. Snyder also analyzes the wehrmachts unique penal and parole system, the first treatment of this important topic in the english language. Germany to officially pardon 50,000 gay men convicted under naziera law criminalising homosexuality. Apart from the human interest side, paragraph 175 is a salutary lesson in just how fragile many of our personal liberties really are. Pierre seel, imprisoned for homosexuality by nazis.
Abortions are available on request by a pregnant woman for up to three months from completed implantation. Between 5,000 and 15,000 german homosexual men were confined in nazi concentration camps, usually after serving their prison sentences. I have to watch it for a social project but dont want to buy it or rent it, does anyone know where i can watch it online with english subtitles. The adenauer era officially came to an end on october 16, 1963 when adenauer was pressured to resign. This reference provides text, photographs, charts, maps, and extensive indexes. Of the 64,000 men convicted under paragraph 175 since world war ii, an estimated 5,000 are still alive. Germany to quash convictions for homosexuality, pay. Also examines antihomosexual trends in international politics and the mass media during the 1960s. Story highlights germany s paragraph 175 law criminalized homosexuality. Using an obscure paragraph in germanys penal code dating back to 1871, the nazi government. Paragraph 175 was a rule of law of the german penal code, inherited from the prussian law, which criminalizes sex between men and which was in force from 1872 to 1994. Where a party was not yet twentyone years of age at the time of the act, the court may in especially minor cases refrain from punishment. Explains the political and ideological motives behind the nazi plan for a final solution for the homosexual problem. I was very impressed by this 1919 silent film challenging the german law of the time that condemned homosexuals to 5 years imprisonment.
Germany expected to approve bill rehabilitating gay victims. It traces the legislative development of paragraph 175 of the german penal code, which made homosexual acts punishable by law. The german justice ministry plans to allocate 30 million to pay compensation to thousands of men convicted under paragraph 175, a law that criminalized homosexuality that was enforced until late 1960s. It made homosexual acts between males a crime, and in early revisions the provision also criminalized bestiality. The documentary film paragraph 175, a joint germanenglishamerican production, publicized the effects of the law on concentration camp internees. Timeline of events united states holocaust memorial museum. Name three groups the nazis arrested in 1933 that built on existing prejudices. This document is a translation of the legal opinion composed in german. Germany is to officially pardon 50,000 men convicted under a naziera law criminalising homosexuality that continued to be enforced after the second world war. Around 140,000 men were prosecuted under the law and 50,000 were imprisoned. Nazi laws on sexual deviancy jewish virtual library. Germany expected to approve bill rehabilitating gay. Mar, 2019 german lawmakers in 2017 approved the annulment of thousands of convictions under the paragraph 175 law, which remained in force in its naziera form until homosexuality was decriminalized in 1969.
For gay men who suffered under paragraph 175 in germany. Section 4 application to offences committed on german ships and aircraft. Germany to officially pardon 50,000 gay men convicted. While uber claims that it only provides a digital platform for third party drivers, various european courts have taken a different view. At the end of different from the others, were told of a missing sequence in which a great hand descends over a german law book to cross out the entry for paragraph 175. Germany to quash historical convictions of gay men lgbt. German criminal code strafgesetzbuch stgb full citation. Paragraph 175, homosexuality and the nazis pt i youtube. Filmmaker rob epstein interviewed seel for his film paragraph 175.
Paragraph 175 died in 1994, but its taken another 22 years for those who suffered under it to find justice. The german government is expected to approve a rehabilitation and compensation bill for the victims of paragraph 175. The documentary film paragraph 175, a joint german britishamerican production, publicized the effects of the law on concentration camp internees. Jan 01, 2004 the controversy depicts how legal efforts to identify the female homosexual as a criminal category exposed the lack of public agreement regarding her physiological, moral, and social constitution. The title refers to the section of a 1871 german penal code that made sex between two men punishable by imprisonment. This week the german government announced it will be compensating men who faced investigation under the countrys notoriously antigay law, paragraph 175.
Their filmed testimonies tell an epic story, made vivid with evocative images from the period and original, haunting images shot for this film. German government to pay 30m in compensation to gay men. This is technically an extension of compensation, as in 2017 germany approved a rehabilitation and compensation bill for those who had been jailed under the law. In 1898, german doctor and writer magnus hirschfeld formed the scientifichumanitarian committee to campaign publicly against the notorious law paragraph 175, which made sex between men illegal. I believe you will see that this is not the paragraph symbol, which is rendered as. They must be performed in public hospitals by a physician after. The gay men were arrested by the nazis for the crime of homosexuality under paragraph 175, the sodomy provision of the german penal code, dating back to. Karl lange united states holocaust memorial museum. Germany is finally clearing thousands of gay men convicted of.
Finally, in 1994, the german government decided to get rid of the paragraph altogether, citing the profound societal changes and the existence of. Germany sets aside 30 million to compensate men convicted of. Paragraph 175 was the national german law that prohibited sex between men. Ubers legal issues stem from the difficulty in defining what kinds of services uber offers and what kind of relationship exists between uber and its customers. Even after the concentration camps were liberated gay prisoners would be sent to sent to regular prisons to finish out the terms of their sentences. Paragraph 175 is a feature documentary built around personal stories of homosexual men who experienced persecution under the nazis. The tragic lessons of cinemas first gay love story the. Section 3 application to offences committed on german territory.
Mar 22, 2017 the german government is expected to approve a rehabilitation and compensation bill for the victims of paragraph 175. It made homosexual acts between males a crime, and in early revisions the provision also criminalized bestiality as well as forms of prostitution and underage sexual abuse. It made homosexual acts between males a crime, and in early revisions the provision also criminalized bestiality the statute was amended several times. Abortion in austria is governed by the federal law of 23 january 1974 in force january 1, 1975, 14 through which provisions on abortion were adopted in the criminal code. Students study the legacy of paragraph 175 of the german constitution, which the nazis used to systematically persecute homosexuals. Dw takes a look back at a history of persecution in west and east germany. Germany to officially pardon 50,000 gay men convicted under. Forces to help german customs officials at bordercrossing points, including german military and civilian airfields. Berlin also had the most active lgbt rights movements in the world at the time.
The german parliament reichstag passes the nuremberg race laws. Paragraph 175 project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Paragraph 175 was a 1871 german law, amended by the nazis and kept on the german law books until 1969, because of it some of the victims who were there for homosexuality were sent directly to prison and that it took years for them to be recognised as victims of the concentration camps the official apology from. The original german law criminalizing homosexuality, paragraph 175, was created in the 19th century, but. The justice ministry said it believes about 68,300 people were convicted under various forms of paragraph 175 in both german states before it was scrapped in 1994. An estimated 5,000 to 15,000 were sent to concentration camps. Paragraph 175 educational rights and screening licenses. As part of a massive rewriting of the criminal code, nazi jurists expanded paragraph 175. Where can i watch paragraph 175 online for free with english subtitles. Members of a force, of a civilian component and dependents article 66 and paragraph 6 of article 3 of the supplementary agreement.
Germany to officially pardon 50,000 gay men convicted under nazi. The translation includes the amendments to the act by article 2 of the act of 19 june 2019 federal law gazette i, p. An unnatural sex act committed between persons of male sex or by humans with animals is punishable by imprisonment. Between 1933 and 1945 when the nazis came to power in germany an estimated 100,000 homosexual men were arrested, of whom 50,000 were sentenced under criminal law paragraph 175. Proposed german law for the mitigation of the consequences of the covid19 pandemic 4 12 3 opening of proceedings based on the application of a creditor in the case of applications for the opening of insolvency proceedings filed by creditors between the effective date of the law and the date three months after the effective. Overnight, they were thrown out of german society and many. The nuremberg race laws consisted of two pieces of legislation. The statute drew legal influence from previous measures, including those undertaken by the holy roman empire and prussian states. Paragraph 175 paragraph 175 weimar, germany was a homosexual eden in the 1920s. These new laws defined homosexuals as asocials who were a threat to the reich and the moral purity of germany. Workshop discussion about paragraph 175 of the german criminal code, which will take place on tuesday, february 14 th 2017 at 7 pm.
An unnatural sex act committed between persons of the male sex or by humans with animals is punishable by imprisonment. Legal challenges for uber in the european union and in. Mar 22, 2017 germany is to officially pardon 50,000 men convicted under a naziera law criminalising homosexuality that continued to be enforced after the second world war. Learn about paragraph 175 of the german constitution, a law that prohibited homosexuality in nazi germany. Germany had a law, called paragraph 175, which made it a crime to have homosexual sex in public or for male prostitutes to solicit men for gay sex.
It was incorporated into the german penal code in 1871. Paragraph 175 and other sexual deviance laws a national prohibition, paragraph 175, was added to the reich penal code in 1871. Injustice in the state of law workshop discussion about. When the nazis came to power in 1933, they put a halt to efforts seeking reform of this law. All in all, around 140,000 men were convicted under the law. This law, which criminalized homosexual acts, was introduced at the end of the 19th century and was in force until the 60s.
Find out how hitler strengthened enforcement of paragraph 155, a law that made homosexuality a crime in germany spanish available. Learn about over 1,000 camps and ghettos in volume i and ii of this encyclopedia, which are available as a free pdf download. Homosexual acts were criminalized from 1871 under paragraph 175 in the penal code of the then german empire and sharpened under hitler from 1935. A male who commits a sex offense with another male or allows himself to be used by another male for a sex offense shall be punished with imprisonment. Rehabilitation of homosexual men convicted pursuant to section 175 of the. The original german law criminalizing homosexuality, paragraph 175, was created in the 19th century, but it was the nazis who seized on it. The sinister paragraph 175 was in effect until 1969. That should certainly be mentioned, and the disgraceful paragraph reference moved down to the thirties. May 12, 2016 germany is finally clearing thousands of gay men convicted of breaking a naziera law.
Abortion legislation in europe the library of congress. The wehrmachts system functioned as a filtering mechanism that rechanneled willing soldiers back to the front while simultaneously channeling recalcitrant or incorrigible soldiers in the opposite directionto concentration camps for destruction. In october 2016 the federal minister of justice heiko maas has introduced a draft proposal to rehabilitate the victims of paragraph 175. Dec 02, 2005 pierre seel, who was imprisoned in a concentration camp during world war ii for homosexuality, died last week in toulouse, france. Learn more about paragraph 175 and watch the award winning documentary of the same name by. Media in category law of germany the following 194 files are in this category, out of 194 total.
The film reminds us how changed, even tolerant, german society seemed to have become by the early 1930s, and how quickly, and completely, that was undone by the nazis. Criminal code in the version published on november 1998 federal law gazette i, p. West germany inherited the law immediately after the second world war, leading to often large raids, numerous arrests and thousands of court cases. Germany to compensate gay men investigated after wwii. Germany has announced that the tens of thousands of gay men convicted under paragraph. The german ministry of justice revises paragraphs 175 and 175a of the german criminal code with the intent of 1 expanding the range of criminal offenses to encompass any contact between men, either physical or in form of word or gesture, that could be construed as sexual. Some 60 years later, when the nazis rose to power, it was expanded to punish a broad range of lewd and lascivious. This law was adopted unchanged and included in the newly formed german penal code as paragraph 175. Issued on june 28, 1935, and put into effect on september 1, 1935, the revision emphasized the criminality of both men involved in indecency. Where can i watch paragraph 175 online for free with.
Three gay holocaust survivors remember pride source. Educational resources based around the documentary paragraph 175. Paragraph 175 took effect in 1872, underwent massive harshening in the nazi era and was retained thereafter, being definitively voided in 1994. Paragraph 175 is a documentary film released in 2000, directed by rob epstein and jeffrey friedman, 1 and narrated by rupert everett. After being imprisoned under the nazi law paragraph 175, a german gay man and a jewish womans unbreakable bond help them endure the horrors of the holocaust. About 50,000 german men were convicted under paragraph 175 of the german criminal code.