Jewish author Edwin
Black on how there were
at least three
separate
tattoo
identification
systems used
at Auschwitz
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All quotes from pages 352/3 of Edwin
Black's 2001 book IBM and the Holocaust:
"Later in the summer of 1943, the
timber merchant's same five-digit
Hollerith
(Hollerith was the IBM developed
system used by the Nazis)
number, 44673, was tattooed on his
forearm. Eventually, during the
summer of 1943, all non-Germans
at Auschwitz were similarly
tattooed."
"Tattoos, however, quickly evolved
at Auschwitz. Soon they
bore no further relation to
Hollerith compatibility"
"Soon, ad hoc numbering systems were
inaugurated at Auschwitz."
"Various number ranges, often with
letters attached, were assigned to
prisoners
in ascending sequence. As people
died the numbers were reused"
"Tattoo numbering ultimately took on a chaotic incongruity all its
"Tattoo numbering ultimately took on a chaotic incongruity all its
own as an internal
Auschwitz-specific identification
system."
tattooed his own distinct number
series on patients."
