Artifacts &
Primary Sources
These artifacts allow learners to examine primary sources to better understand the experiences of queer people under the Nazi Regime.
The Nazi project to transform Germany to fit concepts of race and national unity excluded many people. The Nazi regime increased the persecution of gay men, lesbian women, transgender people, and others already marginalized for sexuality or gender identity. This collection of 13 primary sources from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum shows how people experienced this persecution differently and had a range of responses.
The Josef Kohout/Wilhelm Kroepfl Collection
In 1994, the US Holocaust Memorial Museum acquired the unique collection of Josef Kohout. More widely known as Heinz Heger, Kohout recorded his experiences in The Men with the Pink Triangle, the first published account of a gay survivor of the Nazi camps. USHMM staff shares his story. (Runtime: 9 mins 10 secs)
As young, gay, Jewish men living in Nazi Berlin, companions Manfred Lewin and Gad Beck faced much uncertainty. In 1941, Manfred made Gad a small, 17-page booklet, recording moments from their daily life and titled it, “Do you remember, when.” You can watch US Holocaust Memorial Museum staff talk about the artifact in this 3 minute video.
To suggest a resource to be added to this page, please email jake@pinktrianglelegacies.org.