Question

In addition to stars and colored uniforms what did the germans do to identify prisoners in concentration camps

Answer 1

Question: In addition to stars and colored uniforms what did the Germans do to identify prisoners in concentration camps?

Answer: Germans usually used the following to identify prisoners in concentration camps:

• Identification numbers marked on clothing.
• Identification numbers tattooed on the skin.  
• Concentration camp badges on the clothing.
• Armbands.

Explanation:

• Identification numbers marked on clothing.

Initially, in Auschwitz, the camp numbers were sewn on the clothes for identifying prisoners.

• Identification numbers tattooed on the skin.  

Since the death rates increased, it wasn't easy to identify corpses, due to the removal of clothes from corpses. To solve this problem, medical personnel started to write the numbers on the corpses' chests with indelible ink. Later on, tattoos were applied to them. The identification numbers were tattooed on the upper left part of the breast.

• Concentration camp badges on the clothing.

The badges were colored inverted triangles, sewn on jackets and shirts. These badges had specific meanings and helped to identify the reason the prisoners had been placed there. Based on the badges, guards assigned tasks suitable for each prisoner. For example, if someone  had an "escape suspect" badge, they wouldn't be assigned to work outside the camp fence.

• Armbands.

Armbands were only used by detainees who were sent to perform forced labor in factories outside the camps.

Answer 2

Jewish prisoners had serial numbers tattooed on their wrist to make it easier for the guards to keep track of the number of prisoners.