Hirschfeld's Institute houses a museum of the most mind-boggling sexual stimuli. When visiting a friend who researches testicles, Hirschfeld brings him the gift of a pair of tattooed balls belonging to the Chinese Emperor's brother. The fate of Hirschfeld's Institute with the rise of Hitler's popularity is unfortunately all too predictable. It is looted, and books are burned by the National Socialists in 1933 whilst Hirschfeld is away from Germany. Only his lover and Dorchen remain to defend the Institute in vain.
Nothing is known of their fates.
Hirschfeld himself died two years later in Nice. Shocking the relatives For all the sympathy this character deserves as a Nazi victim and respect as one who did much for others, one is left with the feeling that Hirschfeld was not able to focus on his own relationships, always keeping those who most wanted to be close to him at a distance. Von Praunheim's Der Einstein Des Sex reminds us of a historical figure worthy of attention whom the National Socialists wanted to banish into oblivion. Given that his name is relatively unknown, we can, perhaps, consider that they succeeded in some way. One can only hope that as many people as possible will go to see this film to make sure that the Nazis' intentions are well and truly thwarted and that Hirschfeld gets the recognition he deserves.