Stutthof prisoner identification badge

At Auschwitz, one’s prisoner number was tattooed on the arm while at other camps, it was sewn onto the inmate uniform. Prisoners were referred to by their number, never by their name, to dehumanize them. This metal tag from Stutthof Concentration Camp was sewn onto a uniform. It was from a “Gef”, meaning a prisoner of war. Otherwise, it would say “Haf” for “Hafling”, which was a Jewish prisoner. 

 

In operation since 1939, Stutthof was the first concentration camp outside German borders. The majority of prisoners at Stutthof were non-Jewish Poles.