The Nazi Era: Episode 1: Prologue

The persecution of LGBTQ individuals during the Nazi regime remains a poorly understood chapter of history, often reduced to the singular visual of the pink triangle. While mainstream Holocaust narratives frequently sidelined these stories for decades, intensive research into oral history repositories reveals a complex spectrum of experiences involving brutality, resistance, and survival. Pierre Selle recounts the visceral trauma of Nazi assaults in France, while Frida Belinfante describes her three-month disguise as a man to serve in the Dutch resistance. Lucy Salani’s testimony highlights the starvation and casual violence faced by trans women in concentration camps like Dachau. These accounts transition from the historical silence of the mid-20th century to a contemporary effort to bear witness to the fortitude of queer survivors. Documenting these narratives serves as a critical response to the modern rise of anti-LGBTQ activism, antisemitism, and hatred.