Unused forced labor badge, yellow with a purple P, to identify a Polish forced laborer

Identifier
irn523543
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2005.506.6
Level of Description
Item
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

overall: Height: 2.875 inches (7.303 cm) | Width: 2.375 inches (6.033 cm)

Archival History

The forced labor badge was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2005.

Acquisition

Forms part of the Claims Conference International Holocaust Documentation Archive at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. This archive consists of documentation whose reproduction and/or acquisition was made possible with funding from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

Scope and Content

Unused forced labor badge, yellow with a purple P and a purple border, that would be worn to identify a Polish forced laborer in Nazi Germany. German regulations required the workers to wear the badge with the purple band visible around the P on the right chest to keep them separate from the German populace. During the German occupation of Poland, 1939-1945, many non-Jewish Polish people were sent to Germany as conscript labor for civilian labor details on farms and factories. Workers sometimes volunteered for the forced labor service, but the majority were forcibly recruited and conditions worsened as the war continued. The German work force was depleted by the war and unpaid foreign workers were needed to keep the economy functioning.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Nearly square, white cotton cloth badge screen printed on the front with an upper case purple letter P within a yellow square that is outlined in purple. The badge would be worn in diamond orientation. This badge has gray paper remnants glued to the back, and dark adhesive stains, but it appears unused and has unevenly cut edges. The badge would be cut from a cloth containing several badges.

Subjects

Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.