THE CAMP FUNCTIONARIES

The SS knew, that the prominent positions were very important for the relationships among the prisoners. In order to prevent "helping" officials, the SS advanced criminal inmates who were not willing to organize internal structures for a better treatment. The privileged position of a "Lagerfunktionär" (camp functionary) was thus very desirable because ist granted better life conditions and a better treatment by the SS. Very often, camp functionaries worked like SS-instruments: Just to keep their position and to please the guards, they treated the prisoners even worse than the SS itself. These privileged persons were marked by an arm-sling.

The arm-slings expressed through colours the ranking of a prisoner:

Yellow:

Capo, Supervisor, Foreman

 

Red:

Block Senior

 

Black with white inscription:

Camp Senior, Report Writer, Member of the Labour Assignment

A further sign of the camp functionaries was a blue cap which they other prisoners were not allowed to wear.