Germany remembers persecution of sexual minorities at annual ceremony for Nazi-era victims | DW News

Germany's lower legislative chamber, the Bundestag, on Friday was commemorating those who were murdered by the Nazis, with a particular focus on people who were persecuted because of their sexual orientation. German lawmakers gathered to observe an hour of remembrance.
It is the first time that LGBTQ victims are a special focus of the parliament's annual commemoration of victims of the Nazi regime, which comes as the world observes International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Bundestag President Bärbel Bas said in Berlin on Friday that there should be no end to remembering all the victims who were persecuted, threatened, disenfranchised and murdered by the Nazis. "The victims of the Holocaust remain unforgotten," she said. "Today we remember the people who were persecuted because of their sexual orientation and gender identity," Bas said, noting that many had been deported to concentration camps. "Many were abused for medical experiments, she said. "Most of them perished after a short time or were murdered." The legislature's president added that the end of the Nazi era was not the end of state persecution for this group of victims. Prosecution of sexual acts between men was only decriminalized in both East and West Germany in 1968 and 1969 respectively.
Holocaust survivor Rozette Kats, whose Jewish parents were deported from the Netherlands to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp, was among those to speak at the event. She told of her childhood with foster parents, trying to assimilate and not to draw attention to herself for fear of suffering a similar fate. Kats drew parallels with her own experience and those of gay and lesbian people who were forced to hide their identity. "Every person who was persecuted at that time deserves respectful remembrance," she said. "Every person who is persecuted today is entitled to our recognition and protection."
Also speaking was Klaus Schirdewahn, who was convicted in 1964 - long after the Nazi period - for having sexual relations with another man. Schirdewahn, from Mannheim, said the community was still exposed to threats and discrimination. It was not until 2017 that the sentences against gay men were overturned, he added. "Until five years ago, I was considered as having a criminal record," said Schirdewahn. Actors Jannik Schümann and Maren Kroymann read texts about two victims whose life stories provide examples of the persecution of sexual minorities during the Nazi era.
DW correspondent Hans Brandt said those testimonies, like those of Kats and Schirdewahn, had been moving. "These stories that are so old, that took place such a long time ago, still remain shocking to this day and I think that is the point - that these stories should not be forgotten, that we should listen to them and that we should draw our lessons from them for today," said Brandt. The commemoration came on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which marks the day that Auschwitz was liberated by Soviet forces on January 27, 1945.
In the Holocaust, some 6 million Jews were wiped out by the Nazis and their allies. Thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people were imprisoned and murdered by the Nazis. Germany only publicly recognized their fate decades after the end of World War II. Other minorities, such as the Roma and Sinti ethnic groups and mentally disabled people, were also systematically murdered by the Nazi regime.
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#Remembrance #Holocaust #Bundestag

[@2511_blender]

I love how Germany learned from their past imperialistic and oppressive fascist regime in order to move forward into the brighter future.

[@tomalmow3814]

Are you very sure about that ...now once more Germany is enabling WW3 but Russia is ready.

[@Michael.Jackson31]

they rather got forced, they has no other choise than being liberal and welcoming, if they had the choise being the opposite, than it would be remarkable

[@hansmeyer7225]

@@Michael.Jackson31 Like Russia?

[@voyageur8208]

Germany is moral bankrupt. German Nation was able to destroy Europe using tanks in 2 World War and is not capable of be a leader to defend Ukraine. I can not forget the fact that Germany decided to build Nord Stream 2 despite all the criticism. I remember how loud Poland was screaming to not build it, to stop this russian friendship. Dear Germans, did you enjoy blood of Ukrainian children in your pipelines ? If Russia will win, and the democracy will be defeated, it will be because of German People.

[@chokwoo5720]

Germany started 2 world war had ended with disaster, this speak of Germans, over confident and lost sight of reality

[@chris1013151]

Refreshing to see a country address its troubled past. Posted from the US for context

[@joexavier4070]

Actually there will be no reparation from us..that is damn sure in future also

[@Sir-Complains-a-Lot]

Its a genuine german trait to face our history with open eyes. I think a lot of other nations could learn a lot from us in thst regard. Like being mistrusting towards people that blindly follow their country or politicians. Thats why we like our politics with as less emotion as possible, we are not into a media circus like in certain other countrys.

[@chris1013151]

@Jochen Brückner a US citizen 🙂

[@basicallystupid7080]

@@joexavier4070definitely, quite unfortunate but it’s just a common thing for this country now (edit) and other countries what did similar things to the us

[@Capybara-o5o56]

USA doesn’t like addressing its past that’s why it addresses everyone else’s to feel good about themselves

[@cvfy4142]

Before you coment, I want to urge you all to not politicise this commemoration. Its not about you or your opinion, it's about the individual suffering of victims of German brutally during the second World War. I strongly ask for respect and decency on this topic!

[@joexavier4070]

Well..there is something called freedom of expression or protest...are u trying to bring cancel culture

[@Steven-ly9ei]

@Joe Xavier it was a genocide, are people really in disagreement that this was wrong?

[@joexavier4070]

@@Steven-ly9einot correct,why anyone from this commemoration speak out against isreal...today it self they killed 9 people including 60 years old elder women... Before 13 year old boy...why this life's are not important before u people...😡 "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." Abraham Lincoln

[@Steven-ly9ei]

@Joe Xavier right but here's the thing. I'm not defending Israel, if the people of Palestine feel like their plight is similar to the holocaust. Then you should also appreciate why people don't want it to be politicised. If you wouldn't mind reading my comment again, I said don't we agree genocide is wrong. Don't blow up on me and put words in my mouth. if you live in the region, I wish you health and safety. A holocaust memory isn't the place to explode on people who said nothing wrong. its a time for memory, and reflection

[@cvfy4142]

@@Steven-ly9ei thank you, you found a good way to express what I tried to make clear.

[@nddnation]

I love Germany. That man's speech brought tears to my eyes right around 1:52 - very moving and relatable.

[@thewholetruth5473]

🤣

[@cfalletta7220]

Gays we’re pretty much not accepted anywhere at that time so it’s really not surprising

[@joexavier4070]

Even today

[@peaceful6432]

Georgy Zhukov "We freed them and they will never forgive us for that"

[@SalesforceUSA]

I love Germany

[@thewholetruth5473]

*Gaymany

[@awayvfx4692]

@@thewholetruth5473 How about you focus on your own (US) politics. Maybe if that doesn't work, you can still migrate to russia. I'm sure they will support your stance on this topic over there.

[@wokeaf1337]

Love from Germany

[@thewholetruth5473]

@@wokeaf1337 *Gaymany

[@thewholetruth5473]

@@awayvfx4692 Aren't you going to call me a "Russian bot" too. Lol!! Smh.

[@Light-Eater]

I have a great respect for German nation for the enormous effort, put to deal with their history. Many people don't know the extend of their effort, to become as good nation as they can. Many nations hide their sins, twist their history to make the actions of their ancestors a bit more acceptable. While Germany embeds names of the innocent, that lost their lives because of their decisions on streets of their cities, so their pain wasn't forgotten, and the lesson didn't fade away. I am curious, whether Israel will give justice to their victims one day.

[@kreigrastalovich2577]

Sexual minorities? What you on about?

[@СветланаПетрова-ы1л]

💔❤🇷🇺 On January 27, 1945, the Soviet Red Army liberated the prisoners of Auschwitz.

[@marilenaganea6578]

And then stole everything they could get their hands off

[@marilenaganea6578]

@@account-369 are you a thief too?

[@hello.itsme.5635]

Why the flag of fascist Russia in your comment?

[@ИринаДолгова-ъ1ц]

@@marilenaganea6578 ты дурная?

[@marilenaganea6578]

@@ИринаДолгова-ъ1ц GRU and FSB should send you to an English language course.

[@4dbak]

Mr. Vandyke is a brave man for standing up for what he believes in, especially living in a country where one could be hanged for just being themselves...stay well sir

[@joexavier2287]

I really dont know Germany is changing its name to Gaymany

[@regu6582]

@@joexavier2287 LMAO@Scared-Homophobe

[@thewholetruth5473]

@@regu6582 And you're a Scared-Truthophobe

[@Sir-Complains-a-Lot]

Granting rights to gay people does not take anything away from anybody else. Hating people for the person they love is the lowest pointof humanity. I dont know i think youre just a troll from the quaility, or more accurate, lack of quality of your comments.

[@vincent4801]

@@Sir-Complains-a-Lot The fru-fru's are extraordinarily promiscuous. There is no "love" involved.

[@whis3968]

never forget!

[@jeremiah2516]

God knows what Germany did to his Children they are repeating again to Russia

[@courcheval]

Eastern Ukrainians will very likely remember too the good old times when they will see german tanks at their doorsteps, stepping their gardens and destroying their crop fields.

[@amadeuz8161]

Rember, learn from it, say sorry if you feel guilty for what that generation did but stop hiding behind it. You are not the only country that have had a madman at the helm and had the people follow them. I am angry for what Stalin stole from me but the truth is that I wouldn't exist if Stalin wouldn't have done what he did(I was never ment to meet that part of my family because if they would be alive my grandmother and grandfather would never have met). If Europes history would be different most of us today would not exist so we can't undo it but we can learn and try to do better.

[@rubennavarro7310]

Those Poor People its a horrible History but the stories must be told so it never happens again

[@waltbroedner4754]

Todays politician are no better or different than yesterdays politicians, the same things keep happening all over the world. Millions of people starve or are killed every day on earth, even children.

[@schlafcomandanten]

Palestine needs air defense and tanks to drive out the aggressive occupy forces of Israel

[@roc7880]

It is illogical to commemorate such tragedies and think that Putin can be persuaded by diplomacy to stop the war and not by force.

[@lpspinoy68]

To all the victims we love you all! Deutcher Volks God bless.

[@papacarlo962]

Rip germany

[@jhalakmalhotra2029]

Why what is wrong in remembering lgbt victims.Why holocaust History ignores Roma people particularly their women who had forced abortions performed on them as an experiment.

[@jhalakmalhotra2029]

And lgbt victims.If they are perverts they should either seek god Jesus or sent for talk therapy or jailed for life why rape and murder those lgbt that never commited crimes against children.

[@Moontrue1on1]

Nsatzi Germany once agsain!!

[@yasminesteinbauer8565]

However, this is not VR just a 360° movie.

[@icantfindausernamehe]

LGBTQ+ are Euphemisms - "Euphemisms are a way of making lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." - George Orwell

[@batrachian149]

cring bot

[@justiniani9364]

I'm 14 and this is deep

[@littleantukins4415]

@@justiniani9364 kid lol

[@amethystcrystal5799]

Huh? The term homosexual was too clinical, it's just like saying straight lol

[@joexavier4070]

I hope holocaust survivors speak out against Israeli governments atrocities

[@cooljo5881]

Bruh the youngest are almost 100. Good luck finding one that knows what's going on Israel

[@joexavier4070]

@@cooljo5881 people with colour blindness only see everything one colour

[@Freyja_M4106]

🎼Every little thing about this tells me Nothing out there is ever gonna help me All these words that i hear spoken Just Promisses Broken🎼

[@mortyblink8355]

Lord forgive us for our sins. God is Gracious. Amen

[@WaqarAhmad-dz9di]

Amen, It was really sad that happened with them, what they are doing in Palestine now, what are your thoughts?

[@mortyblink8355]

@@WaqarAhmad-dz9di I pray for all my brothers and sisters, brother. God bless U. God is Gracious. Amen

[@andrewgoodbody2121]

There was no god in the camps.

[@xcitemex6353]

Nothin about Nordstream?

[@fufu3539]

You ever tire of guilt tripping yourself?

[@Sir-Complains-a-Lot]

Do you ever get tired of being a simpleton?

[@fufu3539]

@@Sir-Complains-a-Lot Wallowing in self-hate is rather simple in my book. It's a great way to be deceived and used.

[@MarkAnderson-ng8vc]

Well, masochism was invented by a German (technically an Austrian I guess).

[@fufu3539]

@@MarkAnderson-ng8vc LOL. De Sade is french. Winning masochist and losing sadist?

[@tausifnazim5048]

Don't repent. Celebrate these purifications.

[@jehovahhohenzollern3329]

*AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT ROYAL NAVIES: Slide all School Children down one country said Frederick I of 1888 Royal Prussia​ Owner of School.*

[@dirkdemeirleir264]

Great! Love it ! Can/should be used wordwide. And now a virtual reality about the injustice done to Palestinians since WW2…

[@rizwanali900]

Germany please learn from this and does not overcompensate by supporting Israel in its brutual occupation of Palestine . You should stand with the oppressed

[@cccc2740]

Oppressed like yazdi women, girls kidnapped by bokoharam .. 😂

[@rizwanali900]

@@cccc2740 Definitely stand with them too and those who were killed and raped in Gujrat, India in 2002 as well

[@cccc2740]

@@rizwanali900 exactly.....and with those burned in godhra train too...and with those who were killed, raped and chased out from their land in kashmir too....

[@rizwanali900]

Exactly, and we should not stop there but also stand with those oppressed kashmiris were killed, mass murdered and raped within Kashmir and also against those who elected a master mind killer to one of the highest office of the land

[@marianacabrera3311]

I wonder if the Polish , the Sinty and Roma community will ever be honored in the Bundestag the same way... They were equally oppressed , used for slaving work for German industries, experimented on and inhanilated! If it comes to grow in terms of reconciliation with its past. Germany is walking in the right direction by honoring the gay victims, but your duty doesn't finish here. It's difficult to believe that after so many years not a single monument honoring the Polish community has ever been erected nor these communities have ever been honored at the Bundestag! I guess their stories of during and after the war can be quite uncomfortable for you!!

[@hansmeyer7225]

Stop spreading lies. How's the weather in St. Petersburg?

[@rinmartell2678]

As a German I can assure you that German media and and the Bundestag always mention polish, Sinti and Roma. Say what you want about Germany but one think is for sure: they keep trying to honor ALL the victims of the Holocaust.

[@cvfy4142]

As I said before, it's not appropriate to compare the suffering of groups or individuals. You have a point that some groups get less attention than others, and that needs to change. But the just pit the LGBTQ comunity in the center of attention. There suffering has also not been addressed in a long time. So that's good, for a start. Today we remember ALL the individuals and groups that have suffered under German tyranny during ww2

[@tanusha6145]

Да, в Германии будут чествовать Поляков, когда они захватят Германию ))))) Посмотрим, чем закончится история с выплатой репатриаций польше. С высокой долей вероятности Германию прогнут.

[@tanusha6145]

Да, в Германии будут чествовать Поляков, когда они захватят Германию ))))) Посмотрим, чем закончится история с выплатой репатриаций польше. С высокой долей вероятности Германию прогнут.

[@shoulders-of-giants]

The CDU could never. I despise them with all my heart.

[@joexavier4070]

Why?🙄

[@rinmartell2678]

I also hate CDU with a passion but most of them would also do this. Actually they also sit in the Bundestag, don’t they?

[@bellywood7688]

I saw 1 person mucking about being silly in Auschwitz-Birkenau. I'm sure there were more

[@ming-weihe7976]

By Sending tanks to the war.?

[@Dorr234]

Ukrainians have the right to defend themselves that's right

[@SK-hm3ze]

@@Dorr234 Yes, they have this right. But now Germany fights Russia again, using Ukrainian hands.

[@miesiemumford]

just notice the shivering in his voice....such an important thing and a dark part of german history to talk and to remeber about!

[@smanpreet2612]

Where is the news related knife attack?

[@cvfy4142]

It simply doesn't matter now, this is not to be politicised, its a commemoration. How would you feel when someone appears at your mother's funeral talking about politics and violent crimes that have nothing to to with it.

[@Frank-dv3st]

Killer is stateless Palestinian, not victim of Third Reich

[@hello.itsme.5635]

All over the place.

[@ВиталийКотиков-т5э]

@@cvfy4142 they literally brought up the whole LGBTQ+ bullsh*t into the commemoration. It's already much insulting and politized. Like bringing a "pride" flag to one's funerals.

[@cvfy4142]

@@ВиталийКотиков-т5э I'll just pretend you didn't say that, it makes no sense.

[@k.kirilov_03]

All of you talking about shame and sins, please answer me this little question - which one of you has committed any sort of genocide towards the aforementioned minority groups 70 years ago? I suppose nobody will answer on this positively. So if you haven't, well maybe, just maybe you shouldn't apologize for sins of previous generations and keep you head down to any sort of minorities! Just like the minority groups from the past keep their heads up nowadays and take pride in their living, so shall we be doing instead of burring our heads into the ground for crimes that we haven't even committed... Everyone has an identity, please be responsible to yours! Whoever committed any crime has been into court or is long dead by now, whoever has done anything bad has already apologized for it or swallowed its pride onto his/her grave. And by the way, nobody needs to de reminded every year that his ancestors were murders or have been tortured.

[@phantomapprentice6749]

@Kiril Kirilov , its not about shaming you or anyone else (every country has something to be ashamed about in its history) , its about remembering so we won't make the same mistake again. And you can see people who forgot or have not learned across the world, making that mistake today because they thought they had it all figured out. Some of them kind of lost that perspective that everyone are human beings.

[@k.kirilov_03]

@@phantomapprentice6749 in order to spread awareness and be conscious about the bad consequences, every country needs to do so, yet none is willing to emasculate itself like that. So when everyone it the world sticks to its pride and don't want to confess having done atrocities, why should we all point a finger at Germany and the German nation in that regard? There we far worse atrocious been done by other nations who preach the "hustle, loyalty and respect" as if those words even mean something today. I understand your point and in general, your are correct. But case and point being that the aforementioned virtues are lost today and people just spin them for a curtain agenda when it fits the narrative.

[@MarkAnderson-ng8vc]

@@phantomapprentice6749 Oh please, Germany couldn't win a war against Belgium nowadays let alone repeat WW2 even if it wanted to. There's 0 probability of it ever happening again. The idea that if the Germans don't see a memorial on every block they might try to start a 4th reich is too absurd to even countenance. It's like building forts along Maine out of fear of the British trying to retake New England.

[@crazyhorse8871]

They were better than Russians

[@moiseshuerta3984]

Ya some kind of Natsi? Spreading hate for an entire people? You wear a silly mustache too?

[@crazyhorse8871]

@@moiseshuerta3984 1+1=? Put numbers together.. the worst was China at that time....

[@moiseshuerta3984]

@Baruch Goldberg Russia is Europe. 40% of Europe is in Russia. Not even including Belarus or Ukraine.

[@moiseshuerta3984]

@@crazyhorse8871 Dude. Spread your HATE SPEECH to other Natsis. Not buying.

[@crazyhorse8871]

@Moises Huerta I don't support any kinds of genocide... jus read more, my friend, and 6 million people isn't so much ... I am just saying facts.... Good luck to you :😀

[@louistan7560]

Terrible acting! How could they do this year after year? Only the victims can feel and remember the trauma. As for these folks, they are primarily there for show even as there is no longer a stage.

[@joexavier4070]

I think I am also holocaust survivor?

[@rinmartell2678]

I mean they invited survivors of the holocaust and they also could talk to the audience. What’s your point? And remember one thing: those German politicians you see in the video aren’t the same Germans who killed people in WW2

[@alexanderpepkin4110]

No mention of at least 17m non-combatant Slavs… What a joke

[@cvfy4142]

It's not a joke, all victims are remembered. ALL of them and it's not appropriate to compare numbers and suffering, if you view it from a individual perspective. Its a positive thing that "minor" groups of victims get some attention aswell. To call this a "shame" does reflect badly on you.

[@moiseshuerta3984]

Germany sending Panzers into Ukraine. Again.

[@raj_kumar0]

Good Germans need to break out of the guilt for WW2. They have atoned enough

[@moiseshuerta3984]

@@raj_kumar0 They have already atoned for killing over 27 MILLION Soviet citizens? Including Millions of Ukrainians. Ya really don't value life much do ya? That's not including the MILLIONS of victims elsewhere by these dudes.

[@ElRabito]

Only this time the RuSSians are the Naz1's!

[@joexavier2287]

Hypocrisy and germany directly related to eachother

[@moiseshuerta3984]

@@ElRabito Russians are also orcs. Call em what ya want. Still going to win amigo.

[@allines6470]

Show of artificial remorse is going on...

[@Sir-Complains-a-Lot]

Wow. I didnt know you could tell what others feel and think. You must have super powers.

[@allines6470]

When will be established day of commemoration of illigal GDR occupation by FRG...

[@mikicerise6250]

xD

[@danchokonstantinov6735]

Will Germany ever appologise for General Plan Òst ?

[@Sir-Complains-a-Lot]

Whats that about?

[@СветланаПетрова-ы1л]

💔❤🇷🇺 Ukraine has been bombing civilians in Donbass for 9 years 😔🙏

[@marilenaganea6578]

Ukraine only bombed the Russians that invaded Donbas since 2014.

[@phantomapprentice6749]

Yeah look I've read a bit about it , its not like they started bombing for no reason . Pro-Russian separatists tried to make a coup, forcefully , so it ended up in war like that. Not like everyone in the Donbass was innocent so why paint it like a one sided story? its sad that innocent people get caught in-between conflicts like that , if there are good people , they are the ones who don't want any part in the conflict and just want to go on with their lives.

[@hello.itsme.5635]

No. Russia started a war there 9 years ago. And civilians suffered because of this war. Go blame Putin for that.

[@thewholetruth5473]

@@phantomapprentice6749 The Obama regime orchestrated a violent coup in Ukraine in 2014 that resulted in the overthrow of Ukraine's elected president.

[@jibril2950]

Go and sleep.

[@mohamadhellmayhashim6035]

how about Palestinian...

[@insomnius3447]

Whats about Uyghurs? Kurds? Tigray?

[@SK-hm3ze]

not white enough

[@ericp1139]

And yet, they send money and weapons to Azov…

[@Dorr234]

As far as I know homosexuality is illegal in Russia and they are prosecuted. So shut the f up

[@strongfoot2009]

*Déjà vu........Déjà vu........Déjà vu........* .

[@alexo2675]

Hopefully future generations will commemorate the victims of the Fourth Reich

[@vincent4801]

Schwulesland

[@timmardon6161]

The use of the word Queer is totally not used anymore in the English speaking world!!! Strange for me to hear it.

[@Petar120]

@@joexavier4070 you bigot it's not 10 it's 679 genders, i am offended by your statement and now i will try to cancel you on twitter

[@pbelancsik]

It’s DEFINITELY still used in the English speaking world. But a straight man should know better than an actual queer.