Friday, April 15, 2016

How were the Jews labeled by the Germans in the novella "Night" by Elie Wiesel?

I am assuming that by "labelling," you are referring to physical labelling, as opposed to the verbal ways in which the Germans referred to the Jews.


Even prior to their arrival in concentration camps, Germans labeled Jews by requiring that they wear a patch with a yellow Star of David on it.  Elie wears such a patch in Night.  Typically, this patch would also contain the word "Jew" in the language of the country where the Jewish person lived.


Once the Jewish people entered the concentration camps, they were given striped outfits (not unlike what prisoners wore in the past).  As all concentration camp inmates wore "stripes," Jews were once again distinguished by yellow stars, this time sewn on the outfits.  Jews and other prisoners were likewise identified individually by unique numbers, which were tattooed onto their arms.

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