Kennkarte
Encyclopedia
Kennkarte was the basic identity document
in use during the Third Reich
era, first introduced in July 1938. They were normally obtained through a police precinct and had the corresponding issuing office and official’s stamps on them. Every German citizen was issued one and was expected to produce it when confronted by officials.
After the World War II
begun, Germans begun issuing Kennkarten to citizens of conquered countries. Kennkarten were identity cards also introduced by Nazi Germany
in occupied Poland (General Government
). They were issued primarily from 1941 to 1943. Forgery by Polish resistance
was common.
The color of a Kennkarte was based on ethnicity. Poles had gray ones; Jews and Romas, yellow; Russians and other non-Polish Slavs blue.
Other important documents in Nazi occupied Poland included:
Identity document
An identity document is any document which may be used to verify aspects of a person's personal identity. If issued in the form of a small, mostly standard-sized card, it is usually called an identity card...
in use during the Third Reich
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...
era, first introduced in July 1938. They were normally obtained through a police precinct and had the corresponding issuing office and official’s stamps on them. Every German citizen was issued one and was expected to produce it when confronted by officials.
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...
begun, Germans begun issuing Kennkarten to citizens of conquered countries. Kennkarten were identity cards also introduced by 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...
in occupied Poland (General Government
General Government
The General Government was an area of Second Republic of Poland under Nazi German rule during World War II; designated as a separate region of the Third Reich between 1939–1945...
). They were issued primarily from 1941 to 1943. Forgery by Polish resistance
Polish resistance movement in World War II
The Polish resistance movement in World War II, with the Home Army at its forefront, was the largest underground resistance in all of Nazi-occupied Europe, covering both German and Soviet zones of occupation. The Polish defence against the Nazi occupation was an important part of the European...
was common.
The color of a Kennkarte was based on ethnicity. Poles had gray ones; Jews and Romas, yellow; Russians and other non-Polish Slavs blue.
Other important documents in Nazi occupied Poland included:
- Ausweis, Arbeitskarte, Bescheinigung - issued by the workplace
- Erlaubniskarte - issued for the entertainment workers (actors, etc.)