SS blood group tattoo
Encyclopedia
SS blood group tattoos were worn by members of the Waffen-SS
in Nazi Germany
during World War II
to identify the individual's blood type. After the war, the tattoo was taken to be prima facie
, if not perfect, evidence of being part of the Waffen-SS, leading to potential arrest and prosecution
.
was applied, in theory, to all Waffen-SS
members, except members of the British Free Corps
. It was a small black ink tattoo located on the underside of the left arm, usually near the armpit. It generally measured around 7mm (0.28 inches) long, and was placed roughly 20 cm (8 inches) above the elbow. The tattoo consisted of the soldier’s blood type
letter, either A, B, AB or O. The discovery of the rhesus factor
had been made in 1937, but was not fully understood during World War II, so was not implemented. In the early part of the war tattoos were printed in Gothic-style lettering
, while later on they were printed in Latin-style.
The purpose of the tattoo was to identify a soldier's blood type in case a blood transfusion was needed while unconscious, or his Erkennungsmarke (dog tag) or Soldbuch (pay book) were missing. The tattoo was generally applied by the unit's Sanitäter (medic) in basic training, but could have been applied by anyone assigned to do it at any time during his term of service.
Before the tattoo was developed, a wounded soldier would be matched for a transfusion with another with the same blood group. If there was no reaction within ten minutes of the blood being transfused between the patient and donor, it would be assumed the blood group was the same.
was treated in an SS hospital, they would often have the tattoo applied.
Although the tattoo was widely used in the early war years, over the course of the war it was gradually applied to fewer and fewer soldiers, and towards the end of the war having the tattoo was more the exception rather than the rule. The application of the tattoo to foreign volunteers was apparently an issue of contention, with some, such as the British Free Corps
not required to have it, while other foreign units did not object. Very little specific information exists regarding the tattoo and foreign units, but it is claimed by some that the men of the 33.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS Charlemagne had the tattoo applied. Johann Voss of the 6.SS-Gebirgs-Division Nord and author of Black Edelweiss
, did not have the tattoo applied although the rest of his training company did, as he was visiting his father on that particular day.
were keen to catch all Waffen-SS members on account of the high volume of war crimes committed by some units. The blood group tattoo helped greatly in identifying former members, leading to their prosecution and, in some cases their execution.
Because of the lack of perfect consistency between having the tattoo and having served in the Waffen-SS some SS veterans were able to escape detection, while others who had not served in that branch of the German military were falsely categorized as having done so. Some members of the SS who evaded capture in part because they did not have the blood group tattoo included Josef Mengele
and Alois Brunner
.
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
in Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to identify the individual's blood type. After the war, the tattoo was taken to be prima facie
Prima facie
Prima facie is a Latin expression meaning on its first encounter, first blush, or at first sight. The literal translation would be "at first face", from the feminine form of primus and facies , both in the ablative case. It is used in modern legal English to signify that on first examination, a...
, if not perfect, evidence of being part of the Waffen-SS, leading to potential arrest and prosecution
Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals, held by the victorious Allied forces of World War II, most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Germany....
.
Description and purpose
The SS blood group tattooTattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
was applied, in theory, to all Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
members, except members of the British Free Corps
British Free Corps
During World War II, the British Free Corps was a unit of the consisting of British and Dominion prisoners of war who had been recruited by the Nazis. The unit was originally known as The Legion of St...
. It was a small black ink tattoo located on the underside of the left arm, usually near the armpit. It generally measured around 7mm (0.28 inches) long, and was placed roughly 20 cm (8 inches) above the elbow. The tattoo consisted of the soldier’s blood type
Blood type
A blood type is a classification of blood based on the presence or absence of inherited antigenic substances on the surface of red blood cells . These antigens may be proteins, carbohydrates, glycoproteins, or glycolipids, depending on the blood group system...
letter, either A, B, AB or O. The discovery of the rhesus factor
Rhesus blood group system
The Rh blood group system is one of thirty current human blood group systems. Clinically, it is the most important blood group system after ABO. At Present, the Rh blood group system consists of 50 defined blood-group antigens, among which the 5 antigens D, C, c, E, and e are the most important...
had been made in 1937, but was not fully understood during World War II, so was not implemented. In the early part of the war tattoos were printed in Gothic-style lettering
Sans-serif
In typography, a sans-serif, sans serif or san serif typeface is one that does not have the small projecting features called "serifs" at the end of strokes. The term comes from the French word sans, meaning "without"....
, while later on they were printed in Latin-style.
The purpose of the tattoo was to identify a soldier's blood type in case a blood transfusion was needed while unconscious, or his Erkennungsmarke (dog tag) or Soldbuch (pay book) were missing. The tattoo was generally applied by the unit's Sanitäter (medic) in basic training, but could have been applied by anyone assigned to do it at any time during his term of service.
Before the tattoo was developed, a wounded soldier would be matched for a transfusion with another with the same blood group. If there was no reaction within ten minutes of the blood being transfused between the patient and donor, it would be assumed the blood group was the same.
Usage
Not all Waffen-SS men had the tattoo, particularly those who had transferred from other branches of the military to the Waffen-SS, or those who transferred from the Allgemeine SS, the "General" or non-military SS. Some non-SS men also had the tattoo: if a member of a branch of the WehrmachtWehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
was treated in an SS hospital, they would often have the tattoo applied.
Although the tattoo was widely used in the early war years, over the course of the war it was gradually applied to fewer and fewer soldiers, and towards the end of the war having the tattoo was more the exception rather than the rule. The application of the tattoo to foreign volunteers was apparently an issue of contention, with some, such as the British Free Corps
British Free Corps
During World War II, the British Free Corps was a unit of the consisting of British and Dominion prisoners of war who had been recruited by the Nazis. The unit was originally known as The Legion of St...
not required to have it, while other foreign units did not object. Very little specific information exists regarding the tattoo and foreign units, but it is claimed by some that the men of the 33.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS Charlemagne had the tattoo applied. Johann Voss of the 6.SS-Gebirgs-Division Nord and author of Black Edelweiss
Black Edelweiss
Black Edelweiss: A Memoir of Combat and Conscience by a Soldier of the Waffen-SS is a book by Johann Voss detailing the experiences of a soldier in the Waffen-SS....
, did not have the tattoo applied although the rest of his training company did, as he was visiting his father on that particular day.
Drawbacks
When the war ended, the AlliesAllies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
were keen to catch all Waffen-SS members on account of the high volume of war crimes committed by some units. The blood group tattoo helped greatly in identifying former members, leading to their prosecution and, in some cases their execution.
Because of the lack of perfect consistency between having the tattoo and having served in the Waffen-SS some SS veterans were able to escape detection, while others who had not served in that branch of the German military were falsely categorized as having done so. Some members of the SS who evaded capture in part because they did not have the blood group tattoo included Josef Mengele
Josef Mengele
Josef Rudolf Mengele , also known as the Angel of Death was a German SS officer and a physician in the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. He earned doctorates in anthropology from Munich University and in medicine from Frankfurt University...
and Alois Brunner
Alois Brunner
Alois Brunner is an Austrian Nazi war criminal. Brunner was Adolf Eichmann's assistant, and Eichmann referred to Brunner as his "best man." As commander of the Drancy internment camp outside Paris from June 1943 to August 1944, Brunner is held responsible for sending some 140,000 European Jews to...
.