Identification and Record-Keeping: The primary purpose of the numbers was identification. Each prisoner was given a unique number upon their arrival at Auschwitz. This number was tattooed on the prisoner's left forearm, making it clearly visible at all times. The numbers helped the camp administration keep track of the large numbers of prisoners and facilitated the bureaucratic processes within the camp.
Classification and Segregation: The numbers were also used for classification purposes. Different categories of prisoners were assigned specific number series. For example, Jewish prisoners were typically assigned numbers beginning with the letter "A" (Auschwitz), while political prisoners had numbers starting with "P," and criminals had numbers starting with "BV" (Berufsverbrecher).
Dehumanization and Depersonalization: The practice of tattooing numbers on prisoners aimed to dehumanize them and strip them of their individuality. By assigning a number to a person, the Nazis sought to reduce them to a mere object, devoid of any human dignity. This process of depersonalization made it easier for the perpetrators of the Holocaust to carry out their atrocities.
Tracking for Labor: The numbers also played a role in the exploitation of prisoners for forced labor. Nazi authorities often transferred prisoners from Auschwitz to other camps or work sites. The prisoner numbers helped officials keep track of the prisoners' identities and locations during these movements.
Survival Evidence: After the war, the Auschwitz numbers served as crucial pieces of evidence in documenting the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. They helped researchers and historians identify and trace the fates of individual victims and families, contributing to a fuller understanding of the human toll inflicted by the Nazi regime.
The Auschwitz numbers remain symbols of the suffering and dehumanization endured by countless individuals during the Holocaust. They serve as a somber reminder of the horrors of the Nazi genocide and the importance of fighting against discrimination, intolerance, and hatred in any form.