Book Talk – Homophobia in Nazi Concentration Camps, by Dr Uta Rautenberg

Join us for an evening talk by Dr Uta Rautenberg on her new book Homophobia in Nazi Concentration Camps, a seminal study of the often-stigmatised topic of homophobia among prisoners in Nazi camps. Homophobia in Nazi Concentration Camps 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. In the book, Rautenberg takes a victim- and survivor-centred approach to provide 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. About the speaker Dr. Uta Rautenberg is a historian of the Holocaust, gender, and queerness. She received a 1st class honour in History and Theology from the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Management (University of Leicester, UK). She completed her PhD in History from the University of Warwick in 2021.