us-005578-irn84487-irn4797
type: RecordSet
archival history: The unused cloth badge was transferred to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1991 by the National Archives and Records Administration.
biographical history: Lieutenant Colonel Charles F. Ottoman (April 11, 1890- September 7, 1946) served in the United States Army, Corps of Engineers, during World War II. He handled the investigation of Zwieberge-Malachit concentration camp for evidence of war crimes for use in the War Crimes Trials planned by the Allies following the end of the war. The camp was liberated on April 11, by troops from the 399th Battalion, 8th Armored Division, and 83rd Infantry, which captured all the camp records intact. Immediately following the capture, Lt. Colonel Ottoman discovered and researched the camp materials. He later testified to their provenance for the War Crimes Trials. Malachit was a notoriously cruel camp, where beatings, lengthy torture sessions, hangings, and the murder of prisoners was a common occurrence. No postwar trials were held for officers or guards at the Malachit camps, but the captured records of the camp provided in-depth documentation of atrocities and the concentration camp system which was introduced into evidence for War Crimes cases.
physical characteristics and technical requirements: Lightweight, bright red cloth inverted triangle patch with a flat left top corner and the letter I applied in black ink near the top front. It has slightly frayed edges with faint pinholes. The patch appears unused. front, top center, black ink : I [likely for Italien]
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
date: 1945 April 22, 1947 April-1947 August
has or had holder: us-005578
has or had identifier: 1
has or had some members with language: deu
has or had subject: 98
has record set type: Item
identifier: irn4797
is or was included in: us-005578-irn84487
record resource extent: overall: Height: 2.750 inches (6.985 cm) | Width: 2.500 inches (6.35 cm)
results or resulted from: 1
scope and content: Inverted red triangle badge printed with a black letter I intended for use as a prisoner identification badge in Langenstein-Zwieberge concentration camp, a subcamp of Buchenwald in Germany. The red identified a political prisoner. The letter could indicate nationality; I may be for Italian. The inverted triangle would have been attached on the left breast of the uniform. The camp was liberated on April 11, by troops from the 399th Battalion, 8th Armored Division, and 83rd Infantry, which captured all the camp records intact. This badge was one of many found by Lt. Colonel Charles F. Ottoman, US Army, on April 22, 1945. It was used as evidence for Case No. 117"Alleged atrocities at Zwieberge Malachit Concentration Cam" at the Subsequent Nuremberg War Crimes Trials held in Dachau in 1947. Zwieberge subcamps were built from April 1944 to bolster the German war effort. Due to Allied bombings, an underground factory complex was designed to relocate armament works. The major subcamp, Halberstadt-Langenstein-Zwieberge [Malachit / B2 / Landhaus), planned for 2000 inmates, held more than 5000. Prisoners who worked in the tunnels died in about 6 weeks, at a rate of 30-40 per day. About 60% of the 8-10,000 prisoners died. Prisoners were sent to the camp from all regions invaded by Germany. Inmates included Jews, political prisoners, prisoners of war, and asocials, such as criminals, homosexuals, Roma, and vagrants. Living conditions were primitive, food scarce, and disease rampant. The SS camp fuhrer Tscheu was notorious for his cruelty, beatings, lengthy torture sessions, and hangings. The murder of prisoners was a common occurrence. Malachit was evacuated on April 9, 1945, as Allied troops neared. 3000 inmates were sent on a death march, which 500 survived. On April 11, US troops entered the camp. They discovered about 1500 ill and dying inmates who were transferred to a military hospital in Halberstadt. Residents from Langenstein were ordered to bury the dead in mass grave…
title: Unused red triangle concentration camp prisoner patch with a black letter I found by US forces