Paragraph 175: Outrage of the Century, published in 1922, established Kurt Hiller as a central figure in the German movement for homosexual rights. Hiller spent his career operating at the intersection of law, journalism, and political activism, navigating the turbulent shifts of twentieth-century German society from the Berlin literary scene to the confines of concentration camps.
Academic Foundations and Berlin Activism
Born in 1885 in Berlin, Hiller pursued studies at the University of Berlin around 1900. Under the guidance of his doctoral advisor Georg Simmel, he earned a Doctor of Laws. During this period, he joined Der Neue Club and associated with prominent figures including Magnus Hirschfeld and Hugo Marcus. Hiller became a member of the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee, where he initially advocated for a mass self-outing of homosexuals in 1905, though his proposal was rejected by the group.
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Hiller played a pivotal role in the early gay rights movement in Germany. His involvement deepened over decades, leading to his election as vice-chairman of the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee in 1929. Later that same year, he succeeded Magnus Hirschfeld as chairman. Throughout this time, Hiller balanced his public role as an activist with a private life involving affairs with men, though he never publicly identified as homosexual.
Imprisonment and Exile
Following the Nazi seizure of power, the Gestapo arrested Hiller in March 1933. During his detention, he was subjected to severe physical abuse and transferred through various sites, including Columbia-Haus, Brandenburg, and Oranienburg concentration camp. He remained in custody for roughly one year before his release in April 1934. Hiller immediately fled to Prague, where he met his partner, Walter D. Schultz. He subsequently relocated to London in 1938.
Post-War Return and Later Work
Hiller returned to West Germany in 1955. Upon his arrival, he attempted to reestablish the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee, though the effort failed. During the 1960s, he engaged in preliminary work on a new petition against Paragraph 175, yet the project remained incomplete at the time of his death. Hiller continued to write from his base in Hamburg until he passed away in 1972.
Fast facts
- Born: 1885, Berlin
- Died: 1972, Hamburg
- Academic Degree: Doctor of Laws
- Political Stance: Pacifist
- Key Publication: Paragraph 175: Outrage of the Century (1922)
- Significant Affiliation: Scientific-Humanitarian Committee
- Exile Locations: Prague, London
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of Hiller's 1922 book?
It provided a critical argument against Paragraph 175, the German legal provision that criminalized homosexual acts, asserting that individuals had to drive the change themselves.
Did Hiller successfully reform the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee after World War II?
No, he attempted to reestablish the organization upon his return to West Germany in 1955, but the effort did not succeed.