Juif Badge/Jewish Star
Nazi-occupied France
Circa 1942
Fabric

On permanent loan from the Friedman family – Edward, Judith, Benjamin, and Jacob

Using badges to identify and segregate Jews did not originate with the Nazis. Muslim Caliphs introduced an identifying badge for Jews in the 8th century CE. Throughout the Middle Ages, European kings and popes compelled Jews to wear distinct clothing or markings. These practices were abandoned in Western Europe when Emancipation took place. 

Nazi officials implemented the Yellow star badge to mark Jews between 1939 and 1945. They did so systematically, as a prelude to deporting Jews to ghettos and killing centers. The identifying badges were a powerful psychological tactic. It directly marked Jews as different from everyone else and made them easy to separate from society. Those who refused to wear the badge risked severe punishment, including death. 

The design of the badge varied from region to region; the badge on display is from France. A decree for Jews in Occupied France to wear the yellow star went into effect on June 7, 1942. 

To learn more about badges under the Nazi regime, including the badging system implemented in Concentration Camps, see our resource graphic

Using badges to identify and segregate Jews did not originate with the Nazis. Muslim Caliphs introduced an identifying badge for Jews in the 8th century CE. Throughout the Middle Ages, European kings and popes compelled Jews to wear distinct clothing or markings. These practices were abandoned in Western Europe when Emancipation took place. 

Nazi officials implemented the Yellow star badge to mark Jews between 1939 and 1945. They did so systematically, as a prelude to deporting Jews to ghettos and killing centers. The identifying badges were a powerful psychological tactic. It directly marked Jews as different from everyone else and made them easy to separate from society. Those who refused to wear the badge risked severe punishment, including death. 

The design of the badge varied from region to region; the badge on display is from France. A decree for Jews in Occupied France to wear the yellow star went into effect on June 7, 1942. 

To learn more about badges under the Nazi regime, including the badging system implemented in Concentration Camps, see our resource graphic Identifying Badges in the Holocaust.