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BERLIN Rudolf Brazda, believed to be the last surviving person who was sent to a Nazi concentration camp because of his homosexuality, has died, a German gay rights group said Thursday. He was 98.
Brazda was sent to the Nazis' Buchenwald concentration camp in August 1942 and held there until its liberation by U.S. forces in 1945.
Nazi Germany declared homosexuality an aberration that threatened the German race, and convicted some 50,000 homosexuals as criminals. An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 gay men were deported to concentration camps, where few survived.
Brazda was born in 1913. He grew up in the eastern German town of Meuselwitz and repeatedly ran into trouble with Nazi authorities over his homosexuality before being sent to Buchenwald.
Brazda lived in the Alsace region of eastern France after World War II. Earlier this year, he was named a knight in the country's Legion of Honor.
49 Entries
Valenda Newell
March 1, 2017
May Mr. Brazda rest in peace. Why the world let something like this ever happen. You were a strong person and made it through. May this next journey be a better one for you. Bless you. I wish I would have had the honor to have met you.
Rick Turpin
August 8, 2011
R.I.P. R. BRAZDA
MICHAEL Turnage
August 8, 2011
What a brave man you were!
Brandon Wolf
August 8, 2011
A sad day for all who were held in the death camps. I have a book called "The Pink Triangle." It tells of so many who were held or killed in the camps because of love. Every time I walk past it, I will remember him, and be greatful for all who went befor us. God bless you all!
A. De La Guerra
August 7, 2011
laura martin
August 7, 2011
Eternal rest grant him, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon him; and let the light of his life-story illumine the dark corners of prejudice and hatred in our world.
Don Luck
August 6, 2011
NEVER AGAIN- Jewish genocide and homophobia!! Mr. Brazda in your memory we will continue the fight against intolerance.
Regina Sabin
August 6, 2011
What a story he had to tell.
You are one brave man, Sir.
Rest in Peace.
August 5, 2011
May his courage be an inspiration to all who suffer at the hands of injustice.
Robert Munro
August 5, 2011
You were a prisoner who actually became a liberator of millions. May God bless and keep you close and may your lessons shine on our future.
Robert Poshedley
August 5, 2011
Thank you for your bravery and standing up to tyranny. Thank you for being yourself. You are an example of PRIDE for us all.
Patricia Lehmann
August 5, 2011
Mr Brazda was an inspiration and example to the world by sharing his story of nazi persecution that he was subjected to. I hope you rest in peace and that your story helps bring an end to homophobia.
Jeff Hanoverian
August 5, 2011
I wish I could have met Mr. Brazda. I admire all survivors of the NAZI persecution and Mr. Brazda's life is an example to the whole world.
brian webb
August 5, 2011
Condolences to Mr. Brazda's family and loved ones. May the God of all comfort be with you all.
August 5, 2011
God bless you Mr. Brazda
Patti
August 5, 2011
God Bless You for having great courage and having been an inspiration for all.
May you rest in peace.
Viv
August 5, 2011
What a Brave soul
Rest In Peace my Friend
Michael
August 5, 2011
I only pray that you knew Jesus and you are now home with Him. Life presents so many hardships but He can deliver us from them all
August 5, 2011
It is amazing what the human body & spirit can endure. I imagine his mansion in the kingdom of God shall be a huge one. One of love and much beauty. My sympathies to the family.
Chris Walsh
August 5, 2011
God bless you sir. You were a true survivor of of what the worst of human kind can affectlit upon each other. Your courage and honesty has and will continue to be a great inspiration to all.
Rosemary
August 5, 2011
I am very sorry to learn of such a loss as this. A man so brave, so courageous, so strong who was able to endure trials in life no one could imagine. A true hero for standing up for himself and his life and beliefs. I am greatly saddened for him and his family. I hope now that he will find peace from this crazy world and all the trials it has put him through in life.
Bekah Vestal
August 5, 2011
After what he went through, may his soul rest in peace. How times have changed!
Michael/Joachim-- Brand/Perner
August 5, 2011
I never heard of you sir, but I am so happy that you got to enjoy 65 years of freedom after surviving the horrors of the nazi regime. RIP. You are hero to ALL people.
Bob Jones
August 5, 2011
This man is a hero
I wear a pink triangle in order to symboize my pride in the memory of these men who were targeted. I'm glad he got to live a long fruitful life.
God Bless You and Rest In Peace
August 5, 2011
God bless and keep you in his ever loving arms, RIP good man.
DONALD CRADDOCK
August 5, 2011
What a courageous and honorable man. We usually only hear of the horrors of the Jewish population who were killed and tortured, and not the five million other victims of Hitler's horrible attack on the human race. May you rest in peace and God bless your family.
Beverly Boylan
August 5, 2011
May god carry you safely home as your journey here is complete and a rough journey you had. Rest in Peace
Barbara
August 5, 2011
You are truly a great Man and it would be an Honor to shake your Hand.
Muriel M. Lucas
Durham, NH
August 5, 2011
Bless you dear one, bless you.
Tom
August 5, 2011
RIP. You deserve great peace after such turmoil. My condolences to all his loved ones and friends.
Wendy Mae White
August 5, 2011
MR. BRAZDA, I AM SORRY YOU PAID SUCH A PRICE JUST FOR BEING GAY. THE WORLD WAS PROBABLY NOT AS CONCERNED ABOUT IT THEN.
YOU PAVED THE WAY FOR MILLIONS TODAY AND WE THANK YOU.
GOD BLESS YOU.
August 5, 2011
Thank you and may you rest in peace, Rudolf.
Charlie
August 4, 2011
This man should be respected because he stood up for who he was. I am cheated because I never got the chance to meet him. There is family in heaven where all will greet you with loving arms.
Lucky BlueEyez
August 4, 2011
Thank you Rudolf. You paved the way for the rest of us!!
Susan Scaduto
August 4, 2011
Wow, what a story...bless his heart!
August 4, 2011
RIP. You deserve great peace after such turmoil. My condolences to all his loved ones and friends.
T B
August 4, 2011
awwwwwwwwwwww may he RIP! Im so sorry to hear of this,
julie gossett
August 4, 2011
May you rest in peace.
August 4, 2011
What courage, Rudolf Brazda...you will live on as an example for all gay people! Thank you for being honest and open for all of us who follow after you!
Ben Richard
August 4, 2011
Condolences to the Brazda family. May the God of all comfort be with you.
August 4, 2011
May you rest in peace! We are so glad that you had a long loving life with Eduardo! Thank you for making the Documentary for all to see that you are a human that deserves respect!
Ronald Noll
August 4, 2011
Rudolf,
David and I always admired your style and cut of cloth.
R.I.P.
XOXO,
Patricia A Jublikhan PC
August 4, 2011
David J Bhaltazhar Esq
August 4, 2011
A courageous and honorable man. May he now rest in peace.
August 4, 2011
Rest in Peace brave soul.
Linda
August 4, 2011
Having just read this, I can only begin to imagine the hell this man along with all the six million people in the camps endured. I send my condolences to his family, his friends and all those who have gone before. May God bless all these souls and give them eternal peace.
Maribeth
August 4, 2011
An amazing man, who survived such atrocities. I can only hope he has finally found lasting peace.
Sarah Williams
August 4, 2011
I saw him on TV and he broke my heart with the story of his horrible incarceration but I was filled with admiration re: how he survived no matter what. God bless you , sir.
Mary
August 4, 2011
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