Ostarbeiter "Ost"

[PzV]

Here are a few photos which recently turned up and are quite uncommon. At the end of the war foreign workers in Germany were forced to wear an identification symbol clearly visible on their clothing. These photos are from a local photographer and were are in small format. Looking at their faces in most cases they don't seem pleased to be photographed.
"P" is for Poland and "H" Hungary if I am not mistaken.

[PzV]

Ostarbeiter "Ost"

pic 2

[PzV]

Ostarbeiter "Ost"

pic 3

[PzV]

Ostarbeiter "Ost"

pic 4 "H"

[milcollector]

nice pics, appreciate them.

[Larry deZeng]

Hungary in German is "Ungarn", which would be a "U".

The "H" may be for Holland, the Germans using both that word and Niederlande (Netherlands).

[PzV]

"Ost"

I agree with you on the "H" and you are absolutely right it could not stand for Hungary. Does anyone know if "H" stands for Holland?

[werner geier]

I agree with you on the "H" and you are absolutely right it could not stand for Hungary. Does anyone know if "H" stands for Holland?

For my RSO book project i´m currently corresponding with a dutch "Zwangsarbeiter". will ask him, but it might take a while.
W.

from my archive: