# Nazi taxonomy

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-taxonomy/171180>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 25, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-taxonomy/171180 "2003-04-25T20:12:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-taxonomy/171180/21 "2003-05-11T11:46:59Z")

</div>

I also think that it might pit them against each other-creating a class structure inside the camps, and sort of see them turning on one another.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Phage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a4c791/32.png) [@Phage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phage)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-taxonomy/171180/22 "2003-05-11T15:52:10Z")

</div>

The reason it simple, and does not require understanding the Nazi mind any more than knowing their goals. The reason we do not have such emblems in jails today is because we have a better system of recording prisoners. An inmate would wear clothing identifying his/her status as a prisoner and level of security. Specific information regarding the reason for imprisonment would be in their individual file, as punishment is assigned on an individual basis. The guards and personnel in the prison do not need to know this information, as their treatment is based on their security class.

The Nazis were classifying large groups of people, and passing judgement as a group. Where a single prisoner might be sentenced today, thousands and millions were sentenced at once. The symbols were to identify which group they were in, so separate jails did not have to be made for each class.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Coffeeguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@Coffeeguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coffeeguy)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-taxonomy/171180/23 "2003-05-11T17:08:15Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> The Nazis were classifying large groups of people, and passing judgement as a group. Where a single prisoner might be sentenced today, thousands and millions were sentenced at once.

Rather like “understanding” that a mental patient drilled a hole in her own head “to let the voices out”. Yes, they were faced with the tough task of torturing and murdering millions, but merely saying this doesn’t help us understand any more than in the case of the mental patient. Besides, Stalin had a lot more people killed and I don’t think he used badges.

–CoffeeGuy

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazi-taxonomy/171180.md?page=1)