Fact Check: Hitler’s first legislative acts were bans on sexual “deviance” and usury (charging interest).

Fact-Check Article: "Hitler’s first legislative acts were bans on sexual 'deviance' and usury (charging interest)."

What We Know

The claim that Hitler's first legislative acts included bans on sexual "deviance" and usury has some basis in historical fact. After Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933, his regime quickly moved to implement laws that targeted various groups and practices.

1. Bans on Sexual Deviance: The Nazi regime intensified laws against homosexuality, particularly through amendments to Paragraph 175 of the Reich Penal Code. Originally established in 1871, this law criminalized homosexual acts between men. In 1935, the Nazis amended this law to increase penalties and broaden its scope, reflecting their ideology of sexual repression and control over personal behavior (Jewish Virtual Library). This legislative action was part of a broader campaign against perceived sexual "deviance" that included targeting homosexuals and other marginalized groups.

2. Usury Laws: The historical context of usury laws is complex. Usury, or the practice of charging excessive interest on loans, has been condemned in various cultures and religions throughout history (Fact or Myth?). While there is evidence that Hitler and his associates, particularly Gottfried Feder, criticized usury and sought to reform banking practices, it is misleading to claim that there was a formal legislative ban on usury as one of Hitler's first acts. Instead, the Nazis focused on broader economic reforms and anti-Semitic rhetoric that targeted Jewish bankers, often conflating usury with Jewish identity (Real Currencies).

Analysis

The evidence supports the notion that the Nazi regime enacted laws targeting sexual "deviance" shortly after coming to power, particularly against homosexuality. The amendments to Paragraph 175 demonstrate a clear legislative intent to criminalize homosexual behavior more aggressively, aligning with the regime's broader ideological goals of promoting a heteronormative society (Jewish Virtual Library).

However, the claim regarding usury is more nuanced. While there were discussions and sentiments against usury within the Nazi party, particularly from figures like Feder, the regime did not implement a formal ban on charging interest as one of its initial legislative acts. Instead, the focus was on broader economic reforms and anti-Semitic policies that targeted Jewish bankers rather than a direct legislative prohibition on usury (Fact or Myth?, Real Currencies).

The sources used in this analysis are generally reliable, with the Jewish Virtual Library providing a well-documented overview of Nazi laws, while the historical context of usury is discussed in a variety of academic and historical sources. However, caution is warranted when interpreting claims about usury, as some sources may carry biases or oversimplifications regarding the Nazi economic agenda.

Conclusion

The claim that Hitler's first legislative acts included bans on sexual "deviance" is Partially True, as the regime did indeed enact laws targeting homosexuality shortly after assuming power. However, the assertion that there was a formal ban on usury as one of his first acts is misleading. While there were anti-usury sentiments within the Nazi party, no specific legislation banning usury was enacted at that time. Thus, the claim reflects a mixture of truth and oversimplification.

Sources

1. Law of Nazi Germany - Wikipedia
2. Nazi Laws On Sexual Deviancy - Jewish Virtual Library
3. Charging Interest Used to be Viewed a Sin - Fact or Myth?
4. HITLER AND THE BANKSTERS: THE ABOLITION OF INTEREST ...
5. Manifesto for the Abolition of Enslavement to Interest on ...
6. Hitler’s Finances and the Myth of Nazi Anti-Usury Activism
7. Hitler‘s Sexual Deviance: The Disturbing Personal History and ...