Homosexuality: Reprogramming Experiments In Nazi Germany

“Experiments had been ordered involving living subjects and phosphorus: methods of treating phosphorus burns were to be developed and tested. I must be silent about the effects of this series of experiments, which proceeded with unspeakable pain, fear, blood, and tears: for it is impossible to put the misery into words”(Steakley). These men went through life with the constant gnawing fear that that specific day they would be tortured, experimented on, or killed, and all of this was to make up for the mistakes the German government made. As a result of the Nazis wanting to achieve racial superiority, homosexual men were sent to labor camps, suspected of committing “lewd and lascivious acts”, and subjected to “reprogramming experiments”. The

The homosexual men were first arrested, then convicted (under very little evidence too), and finally were imprisoned or sent to concentration camps. Homosexuality was seen as a crime against Germany, chiefly because they could not help to create the perfect Aryan race. The government made these men’s personal agendas into government issues and went even one step further as to arrest them for their personal preferences and choices. In reality, all of this fake science was just a way to cover for the mistakes and failures of Germany’s government. The country did not even relinquish this idea after the war. They decided they couldn’t let the fact be that these men were making the wrong choice, and decided to make it a

L.D. Classen Von Neudegg was only in the camps for three months but it seemed like forever to him. He was subjected to death marches, beatings, phosphorus burns, and freezing temperatures. He says that much of the experience is “too emotional to talk about” and that the experiments and beatings were extremely painful (Steakley). The same rules applied to him as to everyone else; keep your hands outside of the sleeping bag, only wear a sleep shirt, and no communicating with the outside world. Every person in the camp followed these specific rules because they were in fear of what may have come if they didn’t follow the