Introduction: People wherever they live learn to develop their own systems of value. This is pertinent to their experiences generally speaking, as these are the things that influence their lives significantly. It must be realized that people generally would want to do things in order to protect themselves and see top their own needs first. This means that they would generally be willing to go to any lengths in order to get what they want or need. However, there is also a tendency for people to change the way that most people would struggle in order to survive while sacrificing the lives and property of others.

Having said this it can be asserted that historical accounts may reinforce this claim. This is because there are a great many examples that can be seen in historical records, such as the Holocaust in which saw millions of Jews perish at the hands of the Nazis. However, the Jews were not the only ones to have suffered tremendously during the Second World War, as they were penalized under ‘Section 175’ of the ‘Third Reich’.

Coming down to narrower perspectives, it must be noted that all these different attitudes take their forms through particular values. These values are ones that influence whole societies as well as individuals. It must be noted here that since 1870, ‘Section 175’ was implemented; the only difference was that it was not in action the way that it was since 1935, when Hitler took control.

‘Homosexuality’ is seen as a danger to progress according to Nazi thought. Though there were many gay men within the Nazi regime, gay acts were seen as weaknesses to progress, as there was a risk that these sentiments could take control of the participants of the army. Hence, the cause of Hitler would have been nullified considerably, as there were indeed many gays serving the Nazis. If Hitler had to get rid of these gay troops there would have been a considerable shortage of man-power in the army. So, he was left with little choice. However, he made sure that the anti-gay sentiments were known, and used ‘Section 175’ to overcome his fear.

Ironically, Hitler was believed to be gay too, and perhaps this is what led his greater understanding of the weakness. Driven by his will to establish a pure race within Germany, he must have overcome his sexual desires. This is in contrast to the prior belief that gays that fought side by side in wars motivated their partners, as they knew that they were being watched by their partners. In fact, after the First World War, Germany was a safe haven for gays. However, after Hitler took control he propagated ‘Section 175’ he wanted to establish a pure race by omitting weaknesses races or groups from Germany like Gypsies, Poles Jews, Gays, etc. It is because of this persecution towards specifics groups in German society that even after the war there were lasting effects. Indeed, Nazis target gays till today. However, in 1994, as anti-gay laws were slashed gays could not be targeted legally. This is in contrast to theories of gay and lesbian punishments prior to and during the war. One theory is that gays and lesbians were a threat to the Nazi cause, which that they had to be either killed or transformed. Another theory, also called the ‘Queer theory’ explains this to an extent. This is because the theory explains that homosexuality is a human construct. This is somewhat in sync with Hitler’s thinking, as the Nazis believed that they could transform the way that gay people thought.

Another theory pertaining to the Nazi ill treatment of gays and lesbians is the feminist one that asserts how come lesbians were seen as a threat to the Nazi cause during the war? Women were the ones seen as weaknesses to men because they distracted them Wasn’t this contradictory thought (Bleuel, 1973).

Analysis: Staring from the individual standpoint, the ideas of various values develop into larger concepts that can be seen in the way that particular societies behave. It must be realized that values considerably differ as well across cultural boundaries. As an example it must be noted that countries in Africa significantly from the United States. The values of the people living in these two different places vary significantly, and this is due to the experiences that each of the cultures have had. Just as unique as they are, so are the German Nazis in their thought too regarding homosexuality. Propagated by Hitler perhaps because of fear imprisonment of homosexuals had emerged from the Third Reich. Based on a law from the 1870s, ‘section 175’ was implemented harshly since 1935. Gays wherever they were in German were tracked down and put in concentration camps where they became victims for all (Huttenbach, 2004).

Even if a man had to simply look at another man and was observed for doing so, he was immediately arrested and taken to a concentration camp. In these camps, homosexuals were compelled to wear a ‘Pink Triangle’, and this helped the authorities distinguish them from the rest. When in fact prisoners did not wear a pink triangle, and were simply put in the camps, through fear they would not mingle with their same sex. This led to authorities easily distinguishing between who was gay and who wasn’t.

While in the camps, gays who were actually there because they were seen as threats to the Nazi cause were used by several authorities in sexual relationships. This was because many of the troops were gay or they simply used them as outlets in the absence of women. “Homosexual behavior between two 'normal' men is considered an emergency outlet, while the same thing between two gay men, who both feel deeply for one another, is something 'filthy' and repulsive” (Heger, 1994).

As stated earlier, one theory of the way that Nazis treated homosexuals was due to the fact that they (the Nazis) feared the repercussions of their actions. The Nazis believed that these people are a way of diversion for the people, and in order to achieve the Nazi cause, these people would have to be done segregated or away with. This explains the manner in which they were treated as well as the gay German soldiers who were sent on suicide missions. These soldiers were also seen as threats to the Nazi cause, and so, it was better to use them in more productive ways that would also prevent them from carrying on in the army. At the same time, this was something Hitler could not really afford as widespread action against gay soldiers. This was because of the fact that indeed a large part of the Nazi army was in fact gay, and this meant that he would have lost a significant portion of his man power. Hence, it must have been something for Hitler to worry about quite a bit, knowing that he could not really do much about the gay relations within the army. However, he had people close to him inform him about which key officers were gay (Huttenbach, 2004).

Since Hitler could not really do anything much about such a situation within the army, he aimed at trying to transform gay persons. In order to do this, he ordered experiments to be conducted, in which prisoners were made to give themselves up for experimentation. During this process many prisoners died. In addition to this cleansing process, gay people from all over Germany were still being captured and brought to the concentration camps. This became a virtual obsession, as Hitler perhaps knew that he had to do all he could to get rid or transform these people. As a result of such efforts, indeed many thousands lost their lives. In addition this, it might be asserted that there also may have been those that were asserted for little or no reason at all; authorities might have arrested a significant number irrespective of them being gay (Boughner, 1988).

It is quite obvious that through such an attempt, Germany would hardly be cleansed of its gay people. This is considering the fact that Hitler could not really do away with gay practices as they prolonged in the army. Quite reasonably, superior gay authorities in the army would not reveal their sexual identity, and hence, survive. This means that gay practices could have so easily been suppressed but practiced under cover. An understanding as simple as that was enough to nullify all Hitler’s efforts against gay practices. This may be reinforced by the understanding that gay practices in societies that prohibit it still survive. Hence, it is a matter of common sense that gay practices could never be wiped out of Germany no matter how strict or cruel a regime could be. However, Hitler did not only attempt at eradicating homosexuality, as he probably had all gays rounded up for immediate measures; he did aim at looking out for a cure, as he conducted research into transforming gays into regular men and women. However, cruel the process was he aimed at doing this in support of building a pure race. The ‘Queer theory’ is in support of this approach. Even though it had taken form much later, the basic concepts were known to Hitler. The theory holds that human behavior is learned. This is to say human sexual behavior is learned; it is this particular form of behavior that is learned and grows into a society like other behavioral patterns. Since homosexuality is learned behavior, it must be asserted that it is due to societal influences that one learns to act in this way. Hence, if there were never any influences of this kind of behavior then it is believed that there would never be such prevalence of it. However, it is also important to note that particular human behavior does in fact arise from the tendencies. This is worth considering because of the fact that people may be heterosexual as well; and if they are not homosexual, they are heterosexual. Hence, these behaviors have begun from somewhere, and that might include natural instinct. This means that the single notion that learned behavior arises from what is observed may not really stand out as true. This is because of the possibility that one’s instincts lie at the bottom of all these behaviors. In other words, it is appropriate to assert that the theory itself or the belief is flawed; Hitler might have well had the wrong ideas about homosexuality. However, it is his one-tracked mind yet twisted beliefs that led him to take steps without greater consideration (Schoppmann, 2003).

In part, the ‘Queer theory’ implies that there is a process of operant conditioning. This refers to the stimulus that people learn to respond to. Thus if people are trained to respond to the same sex through observation and influence they are most likely to grow into that behavior. This is what might have really taken place, but Hitler was trying to remove these influences and practices from German society in a relatively short span of time. Indeed, his harshness was hardly a humane manner in which to deal with things. The cruelty meted out to these people was unbelievable. However, the truth is that it all really took place. The homosexuals were treated badly by the prisoners as well as the wardens. The only case in which gays may have benefited in the camps was when they were under the authority of gay soldiers. This was because they could do them favors and be protected in return. Lesbians would however find themselves in a much worse off position within the camps. This is because they were of use to neither the prisoners nor the soldiers. However, it is known that they were not as largely targeted as gays were (Boughner, 1988).

According to radical feminists, it is extremely self contradictory of Hitler to have targeted Lesbians. This is because of the fact that the Nazis first of all saw women as a threat to men; women were seen as a distraction, and they were not spared if they interfered if they interfered in the lives of men, especially those men that were in key positions and responsible to Hitler (Zimmerman, 2000).

Generally, due to the consensual Nazi view against lesbians, men tended to hate women more. This is because they were of no use to them; they were considered a waste, as they could not serve the ideals of men. However, Hitler thought otherwise. Hitler thought that women were easier to transform to regular woman hood; they could be taught how to behave like regular women and lead regular lives like looking after the house, husband and children. It is with men that he saw little hope. Perhaps this was because women were of relatively little threat to the Nazi army, and with the passage of time they could be trained, whereas men were already in the army and these prevailing sentiments did not suit his purpose to strive militarily. Hitler wanted his men to be tough and courageous; love affairs within the military would be a threat to that courage, and so, he had to so something about. At the very least, he (Hitler) thought that he might use them to his advantage in one go rather than keeping them in the army while they were a hazard to him. On this basis, Hitler decided to use several of his gay personal for suicide missions (Alvisar, 1998).

Considering these views and the previous ones (the ‘Queer’ theory, and the general notion of fear and insecurity that Hitler may have experienced wit the presence of gay relationships) it must be asserted that there is hardly enough description in each of them to cover what Hitler’s actions were driven by. It hardly seems possible how an individual could have thought of punishing so many people for the sake of the race of sex. This entire behavior is against reasonable human thought. However, it is true that Hitler had attempted this kind of action and indeed succeeded to a great extent. However, his actions were not enough to wipe out particular races of groups from Germany. This is worth considering in spite of the fact that Nazi sentiments prevailed even after the Second World War. It is even surprising how the people who suffered these atrocities still managed to survive so long to tell their stories (Hogan, 1998).

While considering all these theories together, it must be noted that even then the cruel actions of Hitler can hardly be digested. However, one may assert that these theories do provide significant understanding of what might have been the case with Hitler and his racial and other sentiments. Indeed his hatred for gays and determination to transform gays and lesbians into regular men and women certainly defines his beliefs or fears. Hitler either really strongly believed that he could create a race that was pure or he feared particular groups in society. It seems that Hitler was not actually afraid but believed in what he did. This is the reason why he went ahead with he thought up (Gay Focus at Holocaust Museum, 2003).

Just as advised by philosophical thought of his time, Hitler knew that he had to dominate, he also was aware of the fact that if he did not dominate there would be others who would do it. It is because of this thought that he felt that if I he did not accomplish what he so easily could there would be other nations that would dominate the Germans. Since the Germans were in fact dominated by the richer classes (mainly the Jews) Hitler was aware of his people’s economic sufferings. It is on the basis of this that he decided to cleanse the land of the ‘degenerate’. The ‘degenerate’ however included gays and lesbians and anything that stood in the way of the Nazi cause.

Even if Hitler was really afraid of the ‘degenerate’ he was well aware of what had to be done in order to establish a pure race. He probably was also aware that homosexuality would not be so easily erased from German society. So, perhaps he had to make use of the ethnic cleansing that he was conducting. Indeed, he did make the most of it and persecuted many homosexuals in the process. However, this persecution has not been able to reduce homosexual sentiments. This is because it is the free will of people that always prevails and no fear can drive natural instincts away (Gay Focus at Holocaust Museum, 2003).

Fortunately today, homosexuals are far better protected than they ever were in Germany during the last 60 years. Today, there are museums that not only provide remembrance of all those Jews that suffered during the Holocaust but they also provide memories of those homosexuals that were tremendously persecuted during the Second World War. This awareness has however only recently risen because it was largely an unknown fact. It is only with publications in the early 1970s that historians began to learn about the cruelty meted out to homosexuals. First-person accounts of cruelty towards homosexuals during the war, is perhaps best described in Heinz Hager’s first-person account, ‘The Men with the Pink Triangle’. This book tells the story of it all in plain and simple terms. Indeed it is just one of many views regarding this issue, as there are several others now emerging as research in this area continues. Historians and others in turn have been really surprised how this kind of cruelty remained concealed from the eyes of the world for so long. However, since there is more awareness of the issue, homosexuals are now safer than they were before. It is hoped that with passage of time, Nazi anti gay sentiments will be reduced and defused for good. This is of course something that would take a lot of time without any other uprising interfering with the period of peace required to quell Nazi thought.