The treatment and exclusion of female ‘asocials’ as victims of Nazi persecution

Undesirable men and women were incarcerated for the same ‘crimes’ and both endured suffering under the Nazi regime; however, the classification of ‘asocial’ was shaped by gender. ‘Asocial’ characteristics included, but were not limited to, begging, unemployment, and prostitution. However, within the ‘asocial’ category, only women were incarcerated for prostitution or sexual deviance. Consequently, the historiography of inmates held in concentration camps characterises all female ‘asocials’ as having committed a ‘crime’ of a sexual nature. The underlying reasons for this association have received limited discussion, which is surprising given the broad generalisation of this group. Female ‘asocials’ also occupied the lowest tier in the social hierarchy of concentration camps, as all women who wore the black triangle were branded as immoral by survivors. Consequently, ‘asocial’ women were effectively silenced, not only by a post-war society reluctant to acknowledge their experiences and status as victims, but also by their fears of shame and ongoing discrimination in the post-war era. This has resulted in the narrative of ‘asocials’ being told primarily through the accounts of other survivors. My thesis explores the experiences of female ‘asocials’ in camps to demonstrate how the Nazis were able to reinforce historic prejudices towards this group and criminalise the female body. Examining the role of ‘asocials’ in the development of concentration camps reveals why they have been relegated to a mere footnote or mention in a chapter in the history of concentration camps. Additionally, my thesis explores the complexity of using survivor testimony for a group viewed as not adhering to social norms before, during and after their incarceration in camps. To conclude, I reflect on the status of ‘asocials’ after 1945, the reasons for their continued silence, and how their treatment reflects historic and contemporary prejudices against women who do not conform to societal norms.