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Paragraph 175 was a German statute that criminalized sexual relations between men. It did not criminalize sexual relations between women. Paragraph 175 predated the Nazi regime. However, the Nazis revised Paragraph 175 in 1935 to make it broader and harsher. It was one of the main tools that the Nazis used to persecute gay men and men accused of sexual relations with other men.
Learn more about personal experiences during the Holocaust
Explore a timeline of events that occurred before, during, and after the Holocaust.
How and why was the Holocaust possible?