Kurt Von Ruffin

Kurt von Ruffin (born Kurt von Reidffin on September 28, 1901, in München) was one of the first gay survivors to publicly share his testimony on film. A celebrated actor in Berlin, his life took a devastating turn in 1934 when he was arrested after a gay friend, tortured by the Gestapo, named him.

In 1994, Kurt appeared in the documentary We Were Marked with a Big A, where he courageously recounted the horrific conditions he and other queer prisoners endured in Nazi concentration camps. He survived brutal torture but was notably allowed to keep his hair, an unusual privilege granted due to his status as an actor. This led to a chilling encounter with Heinrich Himmler himself; during a visit, Himmler mistook Kurt for staff because of his full head of hair and almost shook his hand. Himmler, one of the most virulently homophobic Nazis, was responsible for the policies that fueled the persecution and extermination of gay people.

During his imprisonment, Kurt witnessed unthinkable atrocities, including the drowning of a trans woman in a latrine filled with excrement and the brutal beatings of countless other gay prisoners. His life was spared thanks to a friend with connections, the director of Berlin’s most famous theater, who successfully petitioned for his release.

Despite his suffering, Kurt was never officially recognized as a victim of the Nazi regime and received no reparations. He went on to have a long and successful career in film and theater, ultimately passing away at the age of 95 in Berlin on November 14, 1996.

His tenacity and bravery in sharing his story helped bring awareness to the persecution of queer people under the Nazis. For that, I am deeply grateful.