Finding Aid for the Holocaust Badges collection 2020.008.h.r
Tiana Taliep
Oskar Schindler Archives
3/5/2020
Contributing Institution:
Oskar Schindler Archives
Title: Holocaust Badges collection
Creator:
William Mimiaga
Identifier/Call Number: 2020.008.h.r
Physical Description:
0.75 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1939-1945
Abstract: In the fall of 1939, the Nazi government introduced mandatory identification badges for Jews in Poland. This Nazi policy was
one of the tactics used to isolate Jews from the rest of the population, and it enabled the Nazi government to identify, concentrate
the Jews of Europe. The following are reproductions of the badges worn across German-occupied Europe.
Language of Material:
English
.
Scope and Contents
From 1938, Jews in the concentration camps were identified by a yellow star sewn onto their prison uniforms. After 1939 and
with some variation from camp to camp, the categories of prisoners were easily identified by a marking system combining a
colored inverted triangle with lettering. The badges sewn onto prisoner uniforms enabled SS guards to identify the alleged
grounds for incarceration.
Criminals were marked with green inverted triangles, political prisoners with red, "asocials" (including Roma, nonconformists,
vagrants, and other groups) with black or—in the case of Roma in some camps—brown triangles. Homosexuals were identified with
pink triangles and Jehovah's Witnesses with purple ones. A Jewish political prisoner, for example, would be identified with
a yellow triangle beneath a red triangle.
The Nazis required Jews to wear the yellow Star not only in the camps but throughout most of occupied Europe.
These items are cataloged alphabetically. The following are reproductions of the badges worn across German-occupied Europe.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use
This element identifies any restriction on reproduction due to copyright or other reasons, as well as restriction on further
use of the materials being described, such as publication, after access has been provided.
Preferred Citation
[Item title/description; Box number/Folder number] Holocaust Badges collection (2020.008.h.r), Oskar Schindler Archive, Chapman
University, CA.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War (1939-1945)
Holocaust victims
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
Armbands
Scope and Contents
Nazi concentration camp badges, primarily triangles, were part of the system of identification in camps. Beginning in 1937
to 1938, the SS created a system marking prisoners. Sewn onto uniforms or armbands, the color-coded badges identified the
reason for an individual's incarceration. These mandatory badges had specific meanings indicated by their color and shape.
Note - The following are reproductions of the badges worn across German-occupied Europe.
box 1
Homosexual Prisoner Armband
box 1
Jehovah's Witness Prisoner Armband
box 1
Jewish Convict Prisoner Armband
box 1
Jewish Political Prisoner Armband
box 1
Political Prisoner Armband
Yellow Star
Scope and Contents
In late fall 1939, the Nazis mandated that Polish Jews must affix a badge to their clothing so they could be readily distinguished
from non-Jews. Initially, Jews were required to wear the Yellow Badge as an armband, but later the Nazis mandated that is
had to be sewn on the left side of their clothing. The Yellow Star made Jews an easy target for descrimination and verbal
and physical abuse. Subsequently, Jews in Germany and throughout most of German-occupied Europe were required to wear the
badge.
Note - The following are reproductions of the badges worn across German-occupied Europe.
