LETTERS
To the Editor:
Edith Kurzweil's review of
Richard Plant's
The Pink Triangle:
The Nazi War Against Homosexuals
(PR
1, 1987) contains three errors in
two paragraphs. The "official" war
against gays began with the death of
Ernst Roehm in the summer of
1934, not 1935. Plant did not specu–
late concerning Himmler's "own la–
tent homosexuality." Indeed, Plant's
book does much to dispel the myth
that many Nazi leaders were
homosexual (similar to the other
myth that Hitler was Jewish). In–
credibly, Ms. Kurzweil implies that
homosexual activity may be a fate
worse than death - "'Racially in–
ferior' homosexuals ... did not
even get a trial, and were completely
at the mercy of homosexual guards."
Yet, SS guards could be executed if
they engaged in homosexual behav–
ior.
If
gay, SS men had to hide it.
One wonders if Ms. Kurzweil even
read Plant's book.
Hugh Murray
Jackson Heights, New York
Edith Kurzweil replies:
I suggest Hugh Murray reread
Plant's book. Roehm was purged in
1934, and "new laws concerning
homosexual conduct ... were
made public [onlJune 28 , 1935" (p.
69). As for the fate of homosexuals, it
is a well-known fact that they were
singled out for gross mistreatment
even though some Nazis were
themselves covert or overt homosex–
uals. Murray gives the impression
that I disliked Plant's book; on the
contrary. I suggest he also reread my
revIew.
Edith Kurzweil
Rutgers University
