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In 1934, the SS in nazi Germany were assigned the supervision of the concentration camps. Camp commanders were authorised to hand out severe punishments, if necessary death sentences. Prisoners were forced to work under horrendous conditions, food was scarce, and the guards were extremely cruel. Many prisoners died in the concentration camps as a result of illness, malnutrition, exhaustion, or executions. The camp system in Germany had different categories: from 'light' to 'heavy', but within that system there were even greater differences. The 'Nacht-und-Nebel' (night and fog) camps were special camps for making prisoners disappear without a trace. Groups of prisoners were distinguished by different coloured triangles that were sewn on their camp clothes: a red triangle for political prisoners, a pink one for homosexuals, a black one for 'antisocial' prisoners, and a yellow one for Jews. The nationality of the prisoner was indicated with a letter in the triangle and under the triangle the prisoner's number was indicated on a white piece of cloth.

The major Nazi camps during the Second World War. Click on the names of the camps for more information. The map shows the present borders between statescountries.

Extermination camps
Other camps