#AGE OF CONSENT IN GERMANY HOW TO#

Although modified at various times, the paragraph remained part of German law until 1994. In 1929, another Reichstag Committee decided to repeal Paragraph 175 with the votes of the Social Democrats, the Communist Party (KPD) and the German Democratic Party (DDP) however, the rise of the Nazi Party prevented the implementation of the repeal.

In 1907, a Reichstag Committee decided to broaden the paragraph to make lesbian sexual acts punishable as well, but debates about how to define female sexuality meant the proposal languished and was abandoned. However, a petition in the Reichstag to abolish Paragraph 175 foundered in 1898. Beginning in the 1890s, sexual reformers fought against the 'disgraceful paragraph', and soon won the support of August Bebel, head of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Paragraph 175 was adopted in 1871, shortly after Germany was unified. In West Germany, the law was revised in 1969, 1973, and finally repealed in 1994. In 1987, the law was ruled unconstitutional in East Germany, and was repealed there in 1989. It was one of the few Nazi-era laws retained in its original form in West Germany, although East Germany reverted to the pre-Nazi version. The Nazis broadened the law in 1935 as part of the most severe persecution of homosexual men in history. The statute drew legal influence from previous measures, including those undertaken by the Holy Roman Empire and Prussian states. The law had always been controversial and inspired the first homosexual movement, which called for its repeal. Overall, around 140,000 men were convicted under the law.

It made sexual relations between males a crime, and in early revisions the provision also criminalized bestiality as well as forms of prostitution and underage sexual abuse.

Paragraph 175 (known formally as §175 StGB also known as Section 175 in English) was a provision of the German Criminal Code from to 10 March 1994.

#AGE OF CONSENT IN GERMANY HOW TO#

Age of consent in germany