Heinz Dörmer
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Heinz Dörmer (born 1912, Berlin, Germany) was a gay man who was imprisoned by the Nazis for the 'crime' of homosexuality.
Deeply involved with church youth groups as a child, by age fifteen, Dörmer was frequenting Berlin's gay bars. In 1929, he founded his own youth group, the so-called "Wolfsring" (ring of wolves), which combined sexual affairs, amateur theater performances, and travel. In 1932, Heinz was promoted and worked on the Scout movement at the national level.
Dörmer and his group tried to stay independent, but in October, 1933 they were forced to join the Hitler Youth.
In April, 1935, Dörmer was accused of homosexual activities with members of his troop, and was imprisoned. He was repeatedly released and rearrested, spending more than ten years in a variety of concentration camps and prisons.
After the war, Dörmer spent another eight years in prison on various charges. After his last release, he returned to Berlin to live with his father, who died in 1970.
In 1982, he applied for reparations from the German government. His application was rejected.
