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The Symbolism of the Green Triangle


          During Nazi rule those thought to be a threat to the 
           Fatherland were taken  prisoner and placed in con-
            centration camps. These prisoners were from many 
             different social and cultural backgrounds.  To 
              distinguish between the prisoners, the Nazis 
               used a system of color coded cloth badges.  
                Jews were given yellow stars;  half-Jews 
                 were given yellow triangles; feminists 
                  were given black triangles;  Gypsies 
                   were  given  brown;  and  gay men, 
                    pink.   The  green  triangle was 
                     given to `common criminals' or 
                      those who had been convicted 
                       of minor crimes, including 
                        drug law violators.   At 
                         the time of Nazi rule, 
                          a very stringent set
                           of anti-drug  laws 
                            was in effect --  
                             laws that were
                              very similar
                               to   those  
                                used now 
                                 in the
                                  U.S.