What Is Men, Heroes and Gay Nazis About?
The premise of Men, Heroes and Gay Nazis in 341 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a stark yet intimate portrait of contemporary Germany, the film follows a quiet march through Berlin’s streets, using that backdrop to examine a world where gay identity collides with the hard‑edge of right‑wing skinhead and neo‑Nazi culture. Without preaching, the documentary lets the contradictions speak for themselves, inviting viewers to watch a silent tension play out between the desire for belonging and the weight of extremist belief. The tone is observational, almost clinical, allowing the subjects’ own words to shape a mood that is at once unsettling and human‑focused.
Andre is introduced as a openly gay skinhead whose own sense of warrior spirit and personal safety shapes his view of violence. His presence in a community that both tolerates and threatens him highlights a fragile equilibrium. Bela Ewald Althans emerges from a notorious past within the neo‑Nazi scene, now navigating a different professional sphere while still echoing the long‑term process of self‑acceptance. Alexander Schlesinger offers a sharp, ideological stance rooted in an East‑German background, articulating a masculine ideal that he claims transcends sexual identity. Jörg Fischer reflects on a decade of deep involvement in far‑right parties, later stepping away and finding work that deals with broader social concerns. Together, these men form a mosaic of personal histories that reveal how identity can be reshaped, contested, and sometimes reconciled within hostile political currents.
Interwoven with these testimonies are scholars, journalists, and historians who trace the uneasy threads linking fascist movements and sexuality across German history. Their commentary provides a broader canvas that situates the present‑day subjects within a lineage that includes notable figures from the Nazi era, offering context without dramatizing past atrocities. The film’s style remains restrained, letting archival glimpses and analytical voices complement the personal narratives.
The result is a reflective, immersive documentary that asks how personal belief and public ideology can coexist, clash, or blur. It maintains a measured distance, avoiding sensationalism while lingering on the uneasy space where pride and extremism intersect, leaving the audience to contemplate the paradoxes that persist beneath the surface of modern society.
What Happens in Men, Heroes and Gay Nazis?
The complete story of Men, Heroes and Gay Nazis, from the first scene to the last, in 749 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
On a march through Berlin, the film examines a provocative clash of identities as gay men confront the legacies of extreme right-wing politics. In a bold, quiet moment among the crowd, the participants critique the idea of gay men aligned with white power or neo-Nazi ideologies, noting the sheer absurdity of such a fusion. One listener perhaps voices the most pointed truth: if the gay far right and neo-Nazis had lived in the era they admire, they would have been exterminated.
Four men in present-day Germany, each with a past or ongoing involvement in right-wing circles, share their experiences and beliefs. Andre, a skinhead who openly embraces his sexuality, defines violence as the courage to defend oneself and as a visible expression of the warrior spirit within. He is openly gay and, while tolerated by some fellow skinheads, he lives under constant threat. Over time, his path leads away from the skinheads and toward conservative political currents, revealing how personal identity and political allegiance can shift in response to fear and belonging.
Bela Ewald Althans emerges from a storied chapter of neo-Nazi history. Once a prominent Nazi figure who admired Adolf Hitler and denied the Holocaust, he was arrested in 1994 and spent 21 months in jail for Holocaust denial caught on camera during a visit to Auschwitz. Today, he works in advertising and remains engaged in the gay community, insisting that his evolution into self-acceptance was gradual rather than abrupt. His perspective underscores the complex, sometimes contradictory paths people take within extremist movements.
Alexander Schlesinger, a native of East Germany, is involved in a political party that espouses extreme-right views. He asserts a provocative stance: being gay does not make someone inherently better, and a gay person can still be racist. When he discusses his attractions, he articulates a controversial ideal: “We gay men are drawn toward a masculine ideal. I can’t stand a screaming queen.” His comments illuminate how some individuals reconcile sexuality with harsh gendered expectations and political ideology.
Jörg Fischer spent nine years as an active member of the far-right parties NPD and DVU, during which time he had a relationship with another male party member. They shared intimate moments for years, yet never spoke about sex or used the word gay. He left those organizations in 1991, rejecting their anti-immigrant and anti-gay stances, and later found another male partner. He now works in social issues, illustrating how personal loyalties and public commitments can diverge over time.
Interwoven with these personal testimonies are expert voices from historians, journalists, and intellectuals who trace the threads between fascism and sexuality through modern German history. The film revisits the life of neo-Nazi Michael Kühnen, a dramatic figure who remained closeted until 1981, when a young gay neo-Nazi named Johannes Bugner was killed in Hamburg for his sexual orientation. Kühnen later published National Socialism and Homosexuality, coming out as gay and arguing that gay men could be formidable fighters because they are less bound by family ties and more bonded to their comrades. He died of AIDS in 1991, but his story continues to provoke questions about the intersection of queerness and extremist politics.
The documentary makes clear that extremist currents have long intersected with homosexual identities. It recounts how key Nazi figures navigated same-sex attraction: Rudolf Hess wrote love letters and poems to men in his youth and only married at Hitler’s urging; Ernst Röhm, a co-founder of the SA, was a close ally of Hitler whose homosexuality and affinity for younger soldiers shaped his role—until the Night of the Long Knives, when Röhm was arrested and killed. Hitler himself is shown via archive footage as the regime’s power unfolds, with discussions of Röhm’s deputy Edmund Heines and the chilling environment around their leadership. The film also touches on the broader historical debate, including theories about Hitler’s own sexuality raised by scholars, and it notes the brutal fact that between five and fifteen thousand gay men were killed in concentration camps during the Nazi era. Pierre Seel, a gay Holocaust survivor, is briefly featured to recount the brutal fate that many faced in Schirmeck-Vorbruck and other camps.
Through these interwoven voices and historical touchpoints, the documentary offers a measured, reflective exploration of how sexuality, identity, and political extremism have intersected in Germany’s past and present. It presents a careful, nuanced portrait that neither sensationalizes nor excuses, instead inviting viewers to consider the unsettling ways in which personal beliefs and public ideologies can collide, blur, or persist across generations.
Men, Heroes and Gay Nazis Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Berlin gay march controversy” to “Recurring questions about ideology and rights”. 13 events name a place, across 6 locations.
- 1
Berlin gay march controversy
During a gay march in Berlin, the crowd is asked for opinions on gay men who hold extreme right wing views or who are white power skinheads or neo Nazis. Almost all respond with disapproval. One participant notes the absurdity, saying that if those groups had lived in the era they admire, they would have been exterminated.
When:present-day Where:Berlin
- 2
Four interviews set up the documentary
The film presents four gay men in present-day Germany who have been or are involved in right wing politics: Andre, Bela Althans, Alexander Schlesinger, and Jorg Fischer. Their testimonies are interwoven with historians journalists and intellectuals. The framing shows how fascism and homosexuality cross paths through recent German history.
When:present-day Where:Germany
- 3
Andre the skinhead and his shift away
Andre is a skinhead who defines violence as the courage to defend himself and as part of the warrior within. He is openly gay and tolerated by his peers, yet he lives under constant threat. He eventually moves away from the skinheads toward conservative politics.
When:present-day Where:Germany
- 4
Bela Althans' Nazi past and Holocaust denial arrest
Bela Ewald Althans was a leading neo Nazi in the early 1990s, an Adolf Hitler admirer and Holocaust denier. In 1994, he was arrested and spent 21 months in jail for denying the Holocaust during a visit to Auschwitz captured on film for a documentary. He is now involved in the gay community and works in advertising, and he says he does not regret his past.
When:1994 Where:Auschwitz, Poland (during a visit)
- 5
Alexander Schlesinger on gay identity and right-wing politics
Alexander Schlesinger, from East Germany, is a member of a political party representing extreme right wing views. He argues that being gay does not automatically make a person better and that a gay man can be racist. He says gay men are drawn toward a masculine ideal and cannot stand a screaming queen.
When:present-day Where:Germany (East Germany origin)
- 6
Jorg Fischer and a controversial nine-year run
For nine years Jorg Fischer was an active member of the extreme right wing parties NPD and DVU and he had a relationship with another male party member. They had sex many times a week but never talked about sex or used the word gay. He left those groups in 1991 and later found a different romantic partner and began working on social issues.
When:1991 Where:Germany
- 7
Michael Kuhnen's secret life and coming out
The documentary recounts the life of neo Nazi Michael Kuhnen, who kept his homosexuality secret until 1981 when he published a booklet and came out as gay. He argued that gay men make better fighters because they have no families and are closer to their comrades. Kuhnen died of AIDS in 1991 after being ostracized by former supporters.
When:1981–1991 Where:Germany
- 8
Röhm and the Nazi tolerance followed by purge
Ernst Rohm, co founder of the SA, was openly gay and trusted for his strength. Hitler knew about Rohm's homosexuality but relied on him for violence and power. In 1934 Rohm and several leaders were killed during the Night of the Long Knives as the regime consolidated control.
When:1930s–1934 Where:Nazi Germany
- 9
Hess and young love letters
Rudolf Hess had no interest in women in his youth and wrote love letters and poems to men. He later married on Hitler's advice, illustrating the complexity of personal lives in the era. These details are shown to underscore the hidden homoerotic currents in the inner circle.
When:1930s Where:Nazi Germany
- 10
Persecution of gay men in Nazi Germany
During the Nazi regime between 5 and 15 thousand gay men were killed in concentration camps. The film places these numbers within the broader pattern of state brutality toward perceived deviance. It connects personal stories to the brutality of the period.
When:1933–1945 Where:Nazi Germany
Show the other 3 events of Men, Heroes and Gay Nazis Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Pierre Seel and Schirmeck-Vorbruck
Pierre Seel, a gay Holocaust survivor, appears briefly recounting how a young friend was eaten alive by the dogs of Schirmeck-Vorbruck concentration camp. The fragment highlights the brutal treatment of homosexual prisoners. The memory anchors the film's historical arc.
When:World War II era Where:Schirmeck-Vorbruck, Alsace
- 12
Historian voices link fascism and homosexuality
Historians journalists and intellectuals who follow fascism and homosexuality across German history are woven into the testimonies. They trace how authoritarian ideologies have intersected with sexual identities over decades. The film uses these threads to build a continuous narrative.
When:present-day Where:Germany
- 13
Recurring questions about ideology and rights
The documentary emphasizes that extreme right wing homosexuals have appeared across eras and asks how personal rights intersect with political ideology across generations. It invites viewers to consider the persistence of these tensions in modern society. The message lingers as a prompt for reflection rather than a simple conclusion.
When:present-day Where:Germany
Who Are the Main Characters in Men, Heroes and Gay Nazis?
4 characters, among them Andre, Bela Ewald Althans and Alexander Schlesinger: who each one is and the part they play in the story. 3 of them link to the actor’s page.
- A
Andre
A openly gay skinhead who defines violence as the courage to defend oneself and as a visible expression of a warrior spirit. He lives under constant threat and wrestles with how his sexuality fits within far-right circles. Over time, his path shifts away from the skinhead scene toward more conservative political currents, illustrating how fear and belonging can reshape identity and allegiance.
- 🏳️🌈 Gay identity
- 🛡️ Violence
- 🧭 Belonging
- BE
Bela Ewald Althans
Played by Ewald Althans
Emerges from a storied chapter of neo-Nazi history, once admired Hitler and denied the Holocaust. He was arrested in 1994 and spent 21 months in jail for Holocaust denial caught on camera during a visit to Auschwitz. Today he works in advertising and remains engaged in the gay community, claiming his evolution into self-acceptance was gradual rather than abrupt.
- 🧭 Radical past
- 🏳️🌈 Gay identity
- 🗣️ Self-reflection
- AS
Alexander Schlesinger
Played by Alexander Schlesinger
East German by origin, he is involved in a political party with extreme-right views. He asserts that being gay does not make someone inherently better, and that a gay person can still be racist. He discusses his attractions and articulates a controversial masculine ideal, offering a provocative look at how sexuality can intersect with ideological rigidity.
- 🏳️🌈 Gay identity
- 🗯️ Controversial views
- 🧭 Ideology
- JF
Jörg Fischer
Played by Jörg Fischer
Spending nine years as an active member of far-right parties NPD and DVU, he had a relationship with another male party member. They shared intimate moments for years, yet never discussed sex or used the word gay. He left those organizations in 1991, later finding another male partner and working in social issues, illustrating how personal loyalties can diverge from public commitments.
- 🏳️🌈 Personal history
- 🗣️ Transformation
- 🤝 Relationships
Where and When Is Men, Heroes and Gay Nazis Set?
Men, Heroes and Gay Nazis is set in Berlin and Germany (Present day). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Present day
Set in contemporary Germany, the documentary follows four men navigating the legacies of far-right ideology in a country still grappling with its history. The events occur in the 2020s, a period marked by ongoing debates over nationalism, memory culture, and LGBTQ+ rights. Through intimate interviews and archival clips, the film places personal stories within a wider cultural and political moment.
Where
Berlin, Germany
The film unfolds on the streets of Berlin, using urban spaces and public marches as a stage for its conversations. Berlin's layered past and modern diversity provide a backdrop that frames the contested politics and personal revelations of the participants. The city acts as a living record of memory, where history and contemporary life collide in the pursuit of meaning.
- 🏙️ Urban setting
- 🗺️ Berlin city
- 🏛️ Historical memory
What Are the Themes of Men, Heroes and Gay Nazis?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Identity vs Ideology, Memory & History and Queerness in Extremism.
-
01
Identity vs Ideology
The documentary examines the tension between personal identity and political allegiance. It shows how Andre's sexuality sits alongside his skinhead identity, challenging simple labels. The film interrogates how fear and belonging can push people toward or away from extremist circles. Through intimate testimonies, it reveals the fragility of self-definition under pressure from groups and peers.
-
02
Memory & History
Historians and survivors recount how fascist legacies persist in modern discourse. The film revisits figures from the Nazi era and explores how memory is used, contested, and sometimes instrumentalized. It highlights the brutal reality of the era, including the persecution of gay men. The narrative demonstrates how the past continues to shape present attitudes toward sexuality and power.
-
03
Queerness in Extremism
The documentary delves into how queer identities intersect with far-right ideologies, revealing contradictions and tensions. It presents individuals who both reject and flirt with such ideologies, underscoring the complexities of sexuality within extremist movements. The film makes a pointed critique of the idea that queerness can coexist with a fascist political program. It also shows the harm and hypocrisy of supremacist rhetoric toward LGBTQ+ people.
-
04
Radicalization & Disillusionment
The participants reflect on how loyalty, fear, and belonging can drive radical choices. The narrative traces how some individuals leave extremist groups: Andre moves toward conservative currents; Jörg Fischer leaves NPD/DVU but maintains relationships. It questions whether personal experience justifies or condemns extremist participation. The film ultimately argues that extremism thrives on personal grievances and distortions of identity.
What Kind of Film Is Men, Heroes and Gay Nazis?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Ambiguous
A measured and deeply unsettling documentary that explores the stark contradiction of gay neo-Nazis through personal interviews and historical context, creating a reflective and confrontational atmosphere.
- thought-provoking
- unsettling
- reflective
- somber
- confrontational
- clinical
- neo-nazism
- homosexuality
- political extremism
- identity conflict
Content notes: holocaust, neo-nazi ideology, homophobia, historical violence, hate groups.
Quiz
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