Dr. Heinrich Mock

Dr. Heinrich Mock was born on August 31, 1904, in Altenburg. An economist and art historian, he earned his doctorate and became the director of the Lindenau Museum, a role that made him a respected figure in the art world. Under his leadership, the museum became a gathering place for queer men, offering a rare refuge even after the Nazis dissolved official LGBTQ+ organizations.

One of his lovers was the actor Heinz Kreutz, whom I have drawn before. In an act of courage, Dr. Mock sent warning letters to his gay friends in early 1937, alerting them that arrests were imminent and that their social circles were under Gestapo surveillance. His bravery, however, led to his own downfall. He was arrested in February 1937, admitted to being gay under interrogation, and was sentenced to three years in prison. As part of his punishment, he was also stripped of his doctorate.

After the war, Dr. Mock fought to weaken Paragraph 175, the law criminalizing homosexuality, but met fierce resistance. He later fled to East Germany where Paragraph 175 was returned to the pre-Nazi version.