University of Toronto Press Homophobia in Nazi Concentration Camps: Perceptions in Prisoner Narratives

Homophobia in Nazi Concentration Camps is a seminal study of the often-stigmatised topic of homophobia among prisoners in Nazi camps. This book reinterprets how prisoner memory and historical historiography reported on same-sex relations and challenges the silence surrounding queerness in the Holocaust, a frequently overlooked aspect of Holocaust history. Utilising the lens of prisoner perception, the book explores the paths of victims and survivors, who were persecuted by the Nazis and had same-sex relations in the camp. It traces the hierarchies and societal norms in the camp, providing a momentous glimpse into the workings of the prisoner society. Through the captivating analysis of early testimonies, oral histories, memoirs and extensive archival materials, the book empathetically reconstructs the experiences and lives of victims and survivors, who had previously been silenced, developing a new and important perspective on camp society. Historian Uta Rautenberg takes a victim- and survivor-centered approach and provides an analysis of queer experiences and accusations. The book explores both female and male experiences and thus contributes to gender history, women's history, and the history of sexuality. It offers explanations for gender differences in homophobia and queer experiences and reminds us of the indispensable need for an inclusive approach to history.