# Institut für Sexualwissenschaft

> sexology research institute in Germany (1919–33)

**Wikidata**: [Q73974](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q73974)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institut_für_Sexualwissenschaft)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/institut-fur-sexualwissenschaft

## Summary
The Institut für Sexualwissenschaft was a pioneering sexology research institute founded in Berlin in 1919 by Magnus Hirschfeld. It operated until 1933 when it was destroyed by Nazi book burnings, resulting in the loss of its extensive library and archives.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1919 by Magnus Hirschfeld in Berlin's Tiergarten district
- Operated as a research institute focused on sexology and sexual health
- Housed an extensive library and archives on sexuality and gender studies
- Destroyed on May 6, 1933, during Nazi persecution of homosexuals
- Its library was burned in the Nazi book burnings on May 10, 1933 at Bebelplatz
- Part of the broader persecution of homosexuals in Nazi Germany
- Considered a transgender organization and served transgender communities
- Located in Berlin's Mitte district during the Weimar Republic era

## FAQs
### Q: Who founded the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft?
A: Magnus Hirschfeld founded the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft in 1919 in Berlin. He served as its director and was a pioneering sexologist and advocate for sexual minorities.

### Q: Why was the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft destroyed?
A: The institute was destroyed by Nazi forces in 1933 as part of their persecution of homosexuals and suppression of "un-German" intellectual work. Its library was burned in the Nazi book burnings on May 10, 1933.

### Q: What happened to the institute's library?
A: The institute's extensive library and archives were plundered by Nazi students on May 6, 1933, and then burned in the Nazi book burnings on May 10, 1933, at Bebelplatz in Berlin.

## Why It Matters
The Institut für Sexualwissenschaft represented a groundbreaking approach to understanding human sexuality and gender identity at a time when such topics were largely taboo. As one of the world's first sexology research institutes, it advanced scientific understanding of sexuality, advocated for sexual minorities, and provided medical and counseling services. Its destruction by the Nazis represents a significant loss of knowledge and a tragic example of how authoritarian regimes suppress scientific inquiry and minority rights. The institute's work laid important foundations for modern sexology, LGBTQ+ rights, and gender studies, making its legacy particularly relevant to contemporary discussions about sexual health, gender identity, and academic freedom.

## Notable For
- First major research institute dedicated to sexology and sexual health
- Pioneered scientific study of sexuality and gender identity in the early 20th century
- Provided medical and counseling services to sexual minorities when such support was rare
- Created one of the world's most extensive libraries on sexuality and gender studies
- Victim of Nazi book burnings, representing the destruction of progressive knowledge

## Body
### Founding and Mission
The Institut für Sexualwissenschaft was established in 1919 by Magnus Hirschfeld, a German physician and sexologist who became one of the most prominent advocates for sexual minorities in the early 20th century. Located in Berlin's Tiergarten district, the institute operated during the Weimar Republic era and served as both a research facility and a place of medical consultation.

### Research and Services
The institute conducted pioneering research in sexology, studying human sexuality, sexual health, and gender identity from a scientific perspective. It provided medical consultations, counseling services, and educational resources to individuals seeking information about sexuality and sexual health. The institute was particularly notable for its work with transgender individuals and other sexual minorities at a time when such services were virtually nonexistent elsewhere.

### Library and Archives
The institute housed an extensive library and archives containing thousands of books, journals, and documents related to sexuality, gender, and sexual health. This collection represented one of the most comprehensive resources on these subjects in the world at the time, making the institute a crucial center for research and education.

### Destruction and Legacy
On May 6, 1933, Nazi students and paramilitary forces looted the institute, seizing its library and archives. Just four days later, on May 10, the materials were burned in the Nazi book burnings at Bebelplatz. This destruction represented not only the loss of invaluable research materials but also the systematic persecution of sexual minorities and progressive thought under the Nazi regime. The institute's destruction marked a significant setback for sexology and LGBTQ+ rights, though its pioneering work continues to influence these fields today.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. Czech National Authority Database