Artifact Spotlight – Concentration Camp Jacket

Concentration Camp Jacket worn by a Polish political prisoner of the Third Reich.

This jacket is typical of those worn by civilian prisoners of the Third Reich. Prisoners’ street clothing was confiscated for reuse by Nazis, and then prisoners were issued striped jackets and pants or striped dresses. The Nazis used a series of colored, inverted triangles to identify categories of prisoners. Red triangles were used for political prisoners, since most political prisoners were Communists. The embroidered “P” indicates this prisoner was Polish. Prison numbers were not unique but were repeated in each camp. The Museum does not have any information about the wearer of this jacket.

The National WWII Museum 2007.185