Inverted triangle

The shape was chosen by analogy with the common triangular road hazard signs in Germany that denote warnings to motorists. Here, a triangle is called inverted because its base is up while one of its angles points down.

In addition to color-coding, some groups had to put letter insignia on their triangles to denote country of origin. For example, a red triangle with an "F" on it denoted a political prisoner from France.

The most common forms of the badge were:

• Pink inverted triangle - a homosexual.
• Green inverted triangle - a regular criminal.
• Red inverted triangle - a political prisoner.
• Purple inverted triangle - a Jehovah's Witness.
• Black inverted triangle -
  • A vagrant
  • A Gypsy
  • A woman jailed for "anti-social behavior", i.e., a lesbian, a prostitute or woman who used birth control.

Double triangles:

• Two yellow triangles, superimposed upon one another, making the Star of David - a Jew.
• Pink inverted triangle superimposed upon a yellow one, making the Star of David - a homosexual Jew.

There were many markings. A prisoner would typically have at least two, and possibly more than six:

Form and Color of Markings of Camp Inmates in the Concentration Camps

	Political	Habitual Criminals	Emigrants	Jehovah's Witnesses	Gay males	Vagrants
Basic colors	Red triangle	Green triangle	Blue triangle	Purple triangle
Markings for Repeaters	Red bar above triangle	Green bar above triangle	Blue bar above triangle	Purple bar above triangle	Pink bar above triangle	Black bar above triangle
Inmates of Penal Battalions	Circled black circle under red triangle	Circled black circle under green triangle	Circled black circle under blue triangle	Circled black circle under purple triangle	Circled black circle under pink triangle	Circled black circle under black triangle
Markings for Jews	Red triangle over uninverted yellow triangle	Green triangle over yellow triangle	Blue triangle over yellow triangle	Purple triangle over yellow triangle	Pink triangle over yellow triangle	Black triangle over yellow triangle
Special Markings	Male Race Defiler: Thick outline of black triangle over uinverted yellow triangle	Female Race Defiler: Univerted yellow triangle over black triangle	Escape Suspect: A circled red circle under the appropriate star	Inmate Number: A white rectangle with serial number	Applicable marks were worn in descending order as follows: Inmate Number, Repeater Bar, Triangle or Star, Member of Penal Battalion, Escape Suspect
	Pole: "P" on a red triangle	Czech: "T" on a red triangle	Member of the Armed Forces: Univerted red triangle	Special Inmate: Brown arm band

See also

• Yellow badge

External link

• Stars, triangles and markings - Jewish Virtual Library
• Gay Prisoners in Concentration Camps as Compared with Jehovah's Witnesses and Political Prisoners by Ruediger Lautmann

Referenced By