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People Without History Are Dust: Queer Desire in the Holocaust
Queerness remains one of the most stigmatized and overlooked aspects of Holocaust history, often erased due to the lingering homophobia of survivors. People Without History Are Dust challenges this silence, weaving together compelling stories of German, Dutch, Czech, and Polish Jewish Holocaust victims and survivors – including Anne Frank, Molly Applebaum, Margot Heuman, and Gad Beck – whose experiences help illuminate the hidden history of queerness in a time of genocide.
Drawing on extensive archival research, this groundbreaking book uncovers the lives of those who were doubly marginalized, not only persecuted as Jews but also as queer individuals. In doing so, it confronts the ways in which history has excluded or minimized their experiences, urging us to question normative accounts of the Holocaust.
By shedding light on these long-overlooked stories, People Without History Are Dust deepens our understanding of identity, survival, and memory, reminding us why an inclusive and complex approach to history is essential – not just for the sake of the past, but in service to the present and the future as well.
Drawing on extensive archival research, this groundbreaking book uncovers the lives of those who were doubly marginalized, not only persecuted as Jews but also as queer individuals. In doing so, it confronts the ways in which history has excluded or minimized their experiences, urging us to question normative accounts of the Holocaust.
By shedding light on these long-overlooked stories, People Without History Are Dust deepens our understanding of identity, survival, and memory, reminding us why an inclusive and complex approach to history is essential – not just for the sake of the past, but in service to the present and the future as well.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
176 pages, Hardcover
Published October 28, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 3, 2026
Das Buch wurde mir von meinem Geschichtsdozenten empfohlen und es ist eins der interessantesten Bücher, die ich bisher gelesen habe. Die Autorin schreibt extrem empathisch und ich mag ihren Stil sehr gerne; unter anderem auch, dass sie teilweise aus der Ich-Perspektive schreibt und von persönlichen Treffen mit den thematisierten Personen berichtet. Man merkt, wie viel Leidenschaft sie für das Thema hat und wie viel Arbeit sie in die Forschung gesteckt hat.
May 13, 2026
“To tell one’s own story, to testify…I term “historical citizenship.” What is of value is not only participation in the emergence of historical narratives but also in becoming visible as a citizen of history, that is, being a part of history.”
A short but poignant collection of difficult history that recalls queer desire during the holocaust: the way it manifested, was utilised and manipulated during genocide.
The text serves a severely overlooked aspect of holocaust history due to the complexity and nuance required for discussion, but also challenges conceptions of family and kinship during genocide. Hájková doesn’t stray from conversations of abuse of power, sexual assault and turbulent relationships in order to display the multifaceted nature of Jewish people to challenge the “victim” narrative and convey their agency.
Decently written, few confusing passages I’m going to blame on the translation. Although the historical content is great, I found the philosophical arguments underdeveloped and non-convincing, particularly the discussion of kinship. I liked the way kinship was brought into the book but I wish the examples were more fleshed out so the concept didn’t fall flat.
An accessible and easy read (I finished it in one day) that’s fantastic for queer, holocaust and genocide studies. Hájková assigns historical citizenship to victims of genocide, which provides important groundwork for the predominantly taboo discussions of genocide beyond the victim mentality.
A short but poignant collection of difficult history that recalls queer desire during the holocaust: the way it manifested, was utilised and manipulated during genocide.
The text serves a severely overlooked aspect of holocaust history due to the complexity and nuance required for discussion, but also challenges conceptions of family and kinship during genocide. Hájková doesn’t stray from conversations of abuse of power, sexual assault and turbulent relationships in order to display the multifaceted nature of Jewish people to challenge the “victim” narrative and convey their agency.
Decently written, few confusing passages I’m going to blame on the translation. Although the historical content is great, I found the philosophical arguments underdeveloped and non-convincing, particularly the discussion of kinship. I liked the way kinship was brought into the book but I wish the examples were more fleshed out so the concept didn’t fall flat.
An accessible and easy read (I finished it in one day) that’s fantastic for queer, holocaust and genocide studies. Hájková assigns historical citizenship to victims of genocide, which provides important groundwork for the predominantly taboo discussions of genocide beyond the victim mentality.
April 11, 2026
A short, digestible text that gives the reader many strong takeaways - central in its title that "people without history are dust." By glossing over or ignoring the queer history of the Holocaust, we erase the lived experiences that shaped the lives of those who navigated their queerness within one of the most difficult eras of history. Hajkova illuminates this history at a more micro level which feels like a critical step for the field. While she is not the first, her approach is accessible and brings value for scholars of all levels.
April 11, 2026
Thank you for writing this. Harkens towards Gigliotti’s The Train Journey in its pursuit to chronicle what many would rather hide. It
January 10, 2026
Lidé bez dějin jsou prach: Queer touha a holokaust
Z mé vlastní zkušenosti jsem se s Queer historii setkala jen, když jsem ji sama vyhledavala. Tato kniha mi byla doporučena a jsem za to velmi vděčná, jelikož historie Queer lidí je známá hlavně Queer lidem a historie Queer židů/ židovek a vězňů nacistických koncentračních táborů je něco co do jisté doby bylo skoro nedohledatelné. Ve škole nás o tom nikdo neučil, ale já doufám, že se to změní.
Jak sama autorka v knize zmiňuje: "Vzniká tak skoro až dojem, jako by všichni pronásledování homosexuálové byli nežidé, zatímco židovské oběti byly často vnímány jako heterosexuální." Ale historie není jednoduchá a ne vždy je lehce stravitelná. Je tedy důležité zkoumat všechny její aspekty a zasazovat je do správného historického kontextu. A.H. se v této knize nevyhýbá, v dnešní době, potencionálně problematickým informacím a dokonale provede i neznalé čtenáře touto velmi zajímavou a důležitou knihou.
Z mé vlastní zkušenosti jsem se s Queer historii setkala jen, když jsem ji sama vyhledavala. Tato kniha mi byla doporučena a jsem za to velmi vděčná, jelikož historie Queer lidí je známá hlavně Queer lidem a historie Queer židů/ židovek a vězňů nacistických koncentračních táborů je něco co do jisté doby bylo skoro nedohledatelné. Ve škole nás o tom nikdo neučil, ale já doufám, že se to změní.
Jak sama autorka v knize zmiňuje: "Vzniká tak skoro až dojem, jako by všichni pronásledování homosexuálové byli nežidé, zatímco židovské oběti byly často vnímány jako heterosexuální." Ale historie není jednoduchá a ne vždy je lehce stravitelná. Je tedy důležité zkoumat všechny její aspekty a zasazovat je do správného historického kontextu. A.H. se v této knize nevyhýbá, v dnešní době, potencionálně problematickým informacím a dokonale provede i neznalé čtenáře touto velmi zajímavou a důležitou knihou.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews