Homosexuals and Lesbians in Nazi Europe

The fate of homosexuals and lesbians during World War II has remained largely unknown to the general public for years. However, a temporary exhibition titled “Homosexuals and Lesbians in Nazi Europe” aims to shed light on their persecution in Belgium, Germany, France, and the Netherlands.

The exhibition is based on a variety of documents, most of which have never been displayed in Belgium before. It answers many questions by placing the persecution of homosexual men and women under the Nazi regime in a broad geographical framework, while also highlighting the rich gay and lesbian subcultures that existed in the early 20th century.

Through the exhibition, visitors can learn about the heterogeneous fates of homosexual women and men during the war. Some chose exile, while others led double lives. In Germany, nearly 100,000 homosexuals were registered by the regime, with about 50,000 being condemned and 5,000 to 15,000 sent to concentration camps where most perished. The fate of those interned varied depending on the camp and date of internment. Lesbians, on the other hand, remained outside the law, except in certain territories, and some were deported as “asocials” or “communists”.

The exhibition not only highlights the extent of Nazi persecution but also responds to the challenge of memory, fighting against untruths that continue to circulate. It begins with an evocation of the first homosexual movements and progresses to the persecution of homosexuals, mainly under the Nazi regime in a European context. The exhibition ends with questions of memory and recognition from the end of WWII to the present day.

This temporary exhibition, produced by the Shoah Memorial under the scientific direction of Florence Tamagne, will be presented in Paris in 2021. However, the contents concerning Belgium and the Netherlands were realized and added by Kazerne Dossin.

If you’re interested in learning about the persecution of homosexuals and lesbians during the Second World War, be sure to visit the “Homosexuals and Lesbians in Nazi Europe” exhibition. It is a significant part of history that deserves to be remembered and recognized.