Purple triangle

The purple triangle was a concentration camp badge used by the Nazis to identify Bibelforscher (or "Bible Student") in Nazi Germany. The purple triangle was introduced in July 1936 with other concentration camps such as those of Dachau and Buchenwald following in 1937 and 1938. In the winter of 1935-36, before the onset of the war, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been reported to make up 20-40% of the prisoners in concentration camps. The purple triangle was originally introduced to identify Jehovah’s Witnesses. As the number and diversity of prisoners accelerated, the category represented by the purple triangle expanded to include other prisoners held due of their religious convictions, including clergy of various denominations, Adventists, Baptists, Bible Student splinter groups and pacifists. Jehovah’s Witnesses however did continue to make up the majority of prisoners in this category.