2865 upvotes, 17 direct replies (showing 17)
View submission: Was Hitler a virgin?
The words of Strasser and Putzi, among others, were sued by American intelligence services in their attempts to create a picture of Hitler’s person, and Langer’s 1943 report for the OSS exemplifies the result, and again, equates homosexuality in some ways with a degeneracy:
The belief that Hitler is homosexual has probably developed (a) from the fact that he does show so many feminine characteristics, and (b) from the fact that there were so many homosexuals in the Party during the early days and many continue to occupy important positions. It does seem that Hitler feels much more at ease with homosexuals than with normal persons, but this may be due to the fact that they are all fundamentally social outcasts and consequently have a community of interests which tends to make them think and feel more or less alike. In this connection it is interesting to note that homosexuals, too, frequently regard themselves as a special form of creation or as chosen ones whose destiny it is to initiate a new order. […] Even today Hitler derives pleasure from looking at men's bodies and associating with homosexuals. Strasser tells us that his personal body guard is almost always 100% homosexuals. […] There is a possibility that Hitler has participated in a homosexual relationship at some time in his life. The evidence is such that we can only say there is a strong tendency in this direction which, in addition to the manifestations already enumerated, often finds expression in imagery concerning being attacked from behind or being stabbed in the back.
With more distance, and more cautious analysis of the sources, historians aren’t afraid to make some reasoned speculations. Kershaw agrees that even if the details are clouded, evidence does point to "*an acutely disturbed and repressed sexual development*" and that "*presumably [his issues] had their roots in childhood experiences of a troubled family life*”, as there is no particular secret to the abusive nature of his father, and worship of his mother. But on the flip side Kershaw is also cautious, and harks back to Lewes in that:
*even if the alleged repulsive perversions really were his private proclivities, how exactly they would help explain the rapid descent of the complex and sophisticated German state into gross inhumanity after 1933 is not readily self-evident.*
At best, following this line of investigation tells us very little. At worst, it buys into the bigotries of the past, when non-conforming sexual behavior was held up by “normal” society as a perversion and in of itself a sign of moral degeneracy, and while there is no harm per se in seeking a fuller biography of Hitler, which yes, would even include his sexuality, it is nevertheless an exercise that we must be careful not to go about incorrectly.
So in short, Hitler’s sexuality has always been, and will likely remain, something of an enigma, but not for lack of trying. Too few sources exist to paint a full picture, and what sources to are often contradictory and clearly driven by ideological grudges against a man and a party with whom they had felt betrayed. Part of that is due to Hitler's own efforts to keep his private life *very* private. His 16-year long association with Eva Braun was kept quite secret from most of Germany due to his belief that presenting himself as unmarried and unattached was a critical part of his image of being selflessly devoted to the country above all else. We have a few minor insinuations from that relationship which ought to lead us to believe it *did* have a sexual component, likely by some time in 1932 (Hitler commenting to an associate that *"[...]as far as love goes, I keep a girl for myself in Munich"*) but even then, details are quite sparse, neither leaving a direct, explicit record as to what it meant in *practice*, whether entirely "conventional" or disturbingly kinky, and biographers will run the gamut in what they suss out from those few tidbits and commentary from outside observers.
It means that what we end up with is such as the above, where the picture of Hitler's sexuality and sex life is very much a picture painted by others, with much of it intended less as a factual accounting than as gossip mongering. It is reasonably grounded and non-speculative to say that he *did* have a sex life and he was not an asexual being or devoid of sexuality, but in the end, making clear statements as to Hitler’s personal desires is not one that ought to be made, and any representation to the contrary belongs more to the realm of salacious and incautious pop histories[1] .
1: https://imgur.com/h9lFAh2.jpg
Gatzke, Hans W. "Hitler and psychohistory." *The American historical review* 78, no. 2 (1973): 394-401.
Kershaw, Ian. *Hitler: 1889-1936 Hubris*. Allen Lane, 1998.
Langer, Walter Charles, and Henry Alexander Murray. *A psychological analysis of Adolph Hitler: His life and legend*. Office of Strategic Services, 1943.
Lewes, Kenneth. “The Hidden Hitler and the Hidden Reader: Review of The Hidden Hitler by Lother Machtan.” *Studies in Gender and Sexuality* 4, no. 2 (April 4, 2003): 140–149.
Posey, Carl. *The Big Book of Weirdos* Paradox Press, 1995.
Shirer, William. *The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany*. RosettaBooks, 2011.
Stone, Charles. “What If Hitler Was Gay? (Essay).(examination of Evidence in the Book ‘The Hidden Hitler’).” *The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide* 9, no. 3 (May 1, 2002): 29.
Ullrich, Volker. *Hitler: Volume II: Downfall 1939-45.* Random House, 2020.
Comment by T-14Hyperdrive at 03/11/2024 at 02:25 UTC
813 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Wow what a fantastic read
Comment by 31Trillion at 03/11/2024 at 02:52 UTC
548 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Thanks for the explanatory and in-depth response! While searching through this subreddit originally, I remember seeing the original question you linked but I did not click it because I thought it was about Churchill’s relationships and not Hitler’s. I should’ve checked that post.
Comment by pandaslovetigers at 03/11/2024 at 02:38 UTC
107 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Top notch reply, thank you 🥰
Comment by headpatLily at 03/11/2024 at 02:36 UTC
180 upvotes, 0 direct replies
thank you for the high quality reply :)
Comment by whats_a_quasar at 03/11/2024 at 03:18 UTC
173 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Wow, this is a very timely thread. I finished reading *The Third Reich in Power* this morning and was confused by how Richard Evans described Geli Raubal's death:
Earlier on, in 1931, his niece Angela ('Geli') Raubal was killed in an accident, giving rise to unsavoury, but unfounded, rumours about their relationship"
This sentence is his only mention of Raubal, and her death is characterized as an accident rather than a suicide. From a cursory web search it seems like the historical consensus is that she probably committed suicide. Do you know why Evans described it this way and didn't mention the possibility of suicide? I suppose the books are a history of Nazi Germany rather than a history of Hitler so details about Raubal would be outside the scope of the book, but it seems like an odd choice.
Also, I started reading Evan's history based on a past comment you made recommending it, so thank you for that suggestion!
Comment by barath_s at 03/11/2024 at 12:13 UTC*
94 upvotes, 1 direct replies
It is reasonably grounded and non-speculative to say that he did have a sex life and he was not an asexual being or devoid of sexuality, but
This comes off almost as a case of burying the lede
https://time.com/archive/6802272/foreign-news-uneven-romance/
It was their first stormy kiss. “I was so happy I wished I could die,” says Maria. On the way back to the car, Hitler told her that his ideal was to marry and have blond children, but that he must save Germany first.... <later>
Maria got the idea and soon ran off to Munich. There was a touching reconciliation on Hitler’s sofa and one breathless Liebesnacht—night of love. Peis quoted Maria: “I let him do what he wanted. I was never so happy.”
Is there any evidence that these are misrepresentation? Or any evidence or reason to be doubted ?
Similarly
Braun biographer Heike Görtemaker notes that the couple enjoyed a normal sex life.
Is evidence via/from his partners that vitiated, by lack of records or conflicting testimony .? Especially when the question is not about the kind of sex he preferred but a simple : was he a Virgin?
Comment by ShadowSlayer1441 at 03/11/2024 at 03:50 UTC
51 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Is there conclusive evidence on Hitler and Braun sharing a bedroom or bed?
Comment by lukadelic at 03/11/2024 at 11:33 UTC
19 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Top quality stuff man, cheers. This is the best sourced informative sub on Reddit with a spectacular moderator team.
Comment by HospitalHairy3665 at 03/11/2024 at 18:40 UTC
15 upvotes, 0 direct replies
You would think that someone so well documented historically, but also someone so famous during his time, that there would be some kind of evidence of sexually activity. Going based on your comment, there isn't a single verifiable account of him ever sharing a bed with a man or woman, no verifiable account of him even really expressing any kind of sexual desire (I wouldn't count the comment about wanting to have blonde haired children as inherently sexually, neither would I count the "I have a woman in Vienna" comment as necessarily sexual either).
What do you make of this? Even similar strong-man leader types had verifiable encounters, cult-like leaders that proffes sexual purity usually do as well. Is this a case of overwhelming propaganda covering up a small, but still existing sexual nature, or could the lack of any real evidence be indicative of a lack of a physical sexual nature?
Comment by eidetic at 03/11/2024 at 04:10 UTC
102 upvotes, 1 direct replies
It is reasonably grounded and non-speculative to say that he did have a sex life and he was not an asexual being or devoid of sexuality
I'm kind of curious about this, because much of what admittedly little I've read regarding his sexuality, including your post, at least hints that it wouldn't be out of the realm to speculate that he might be asexual. Of course, not to say he absolutely was, but even his endless chats with Kubizek sound like that could still come from an asexual - perhaps one who recognizes that obviously sex is necessary for procreation, as well as someone who might take in interest in it from a social and morality based viewpoint as part of their growing rhetoric/philosophy/political discourse/etc. And not all asexuals completely abstain from partaking in the act, or talking about it, be it from pressure to fit in/appear normal, or many other potential reasons.
(You're obviously much more well read and informed on the topic than I, so please don't take my comment as argumentative or trying to be a correction! Rather I'm probably just missing something and just curious if you might be able to expand on that particular aspect and why it seems to be ruled out)
Comment by hornybutired at 03/11/2024 at 05:44 UTC
14 upvotes, 0 direct replies
What a fabulous answer! Thank you!
Comment by Zrakoplovvliegtuig at 03/11/2024 at 12:11 UTC
15 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Awesome response, this could be an interesting article in a magazine.
Comment by Noocracy_Now at 03/11/2024 at 03:29 UTC
13 upvotes, 0 direct replies
What an excellent response. Thank you!
Comment by tuberculosis_ward at 03/11/2024 at 19:33 UTC
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Thank you! Excellent work.
Comment by Muted_Ad1556 at 03/11/2024 at 19:03 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Bravo! 👏
Comment by pclock at 03/11/2024 at 03:18 UTC
31 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Thanks for a very thorough answer, but this answer only addresses the claims of Hitler being a homosexual, into bdsm, and having had a relationship with his niece. I don't feel like it really addressed the OPs question which was about the possibility of Hitler being a virgin.
Comment by Sharky2192 at 03/11/2024 at 17:37 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Thank you so much
