Gerber, Henry

Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History in America, October, 2005 by Karen C. Sendziak

GERBER, Henry

GERBER, Henry (b. 29 June 1892; d. 31 December 1972), activist.

Henry Gerber was born in Bavaria, Germany, as Joseph Henry Dittmar. He immigrated to the United States with other family members when he was twenty-one, arriving at Ellis Island on 27 October 1913. They settled in the Chicago area. In January 1914 he enlisted in the U.S. Army. It appears that upon discharge he worked briefly for Montgomery Ward's. The United States entered World War I on 6 April 1917. That same year, Gerber was interned in a camp as an enemy alien because of his German citizenship.

Gerber reenlisted in the army in October 1919 and from 1920 to 1923 was stationed in Germany with the U.S. army of occupation. He worked as a printer and proofreader. During these years,...

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