[GrandJediMasterYoda]

Why did the Nazis tattoo arms? Was it just to humiliate?

[GingisK]

It helped with the record-keeping. Numbers are easier to handle than names. Also, using numbers helped with the dehumanization. It was easier foe camp staff to see them as numbers rather than names. Everything the Krauts did was unbelievably wretched.

[HenpeckedCon]

Why did the Nazis tattoo arms? Was it just to humiliate?
______________________________________________________________

It was to mark them in case they escaped.

[rlmorel]

They tattooed arms because it is a lot harder to change a tattoo than it is to change a identification card or remove a patch of yellow on your clothing.

And with your clothes off, you can still be identified. Very important to them.

I view it in much the same light as I view the people today pushing a digital ID/digital passport.

I believe they are cut from the same cloth.

[stanne]

I saw a few they were hand written. Humiliating yes

[Rummyfan]

Why did the Nazis tattoo arms? Was it just to humiliate?

No. Teutonic obsession with record keeping and documentation, IMHO. Apologies to any Germans reading this.

[fella]

"Why did the Nazis tattoo arms? Was it just to humiliate?"

Identification, they were very meticulous record keepers.