"Constructing Social Reality in Concentration Camp": the example of Buchenwald - Inner Stratification-Norm Formation- Solidarity in a Total Institution with Absolute Power

Table of Contents

I. Introduction

II. Method

III. Theoretical Discussion

IV. Empirical Part

4.1.The Functional Development of the Concentration Camp System and the Quantitative Composition of Buchenwald

4.2.The Concentration Camp as a Total Institution with Absolute Power: The External Stratification of the Prisoners’ Society

4.2.1. The System of Categorizing or Labeling

4.2.2. The Underlying Criteria of the External Stratification

4.2.3. The Delegation of Power: The Functional Prisoners

4.2.4. A Model of the External Stratification of the Prisoners’ society

4.3.The Internal Stratification: The Fight between the “Greens” and “Reds”

4.4.The Formation of Norms

4.5.Aspects of Solidarity

5. Conclusion

Research Goals and Themes

This thesis investigates how prisoners in the Buchenwald concentration camp constructed their social reality and organized interpersonal relations within the constraints of a "total institution" defined by absolute power. The author seeks to understand how victims navigated systemic terror to establish social structures, norms, and survival strategies, specifically focusing on the struggle for power and the emergence of solidarity.

• Analysis of external stratification based on categorization and labeling by the SS.
• Examination of internal stratification and the power struggle between different prisoner groups, specifically the "Greens" (criminals) and "Reds" (communists).
• Investigation into the development of norms and regulatory behavior among prisoners.
• Study of solidarity forms, ranging from in-group protection to collective action under extreme conditions.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

I. Introduction: The author outlines the historical context of Buchenwald and presents the core research interest in how prisoners constructed social reality within the camp.

II. Method: This chapter details the qualitative approach and the use of primary eyewitness accounts to analyze the social life of prisoners.

III. Theoretical Discussion: The author reviews existing literature and establishes a framework based on micro-sociological approaches and the theory of total institutions.

IV. Empirical Part: This section provides the detailed study of functional developments, stratification, norms, and solidarity in Buchenwald.

5. Conclusion: The author summarizes the findings, noting that while the camp structure was designed for absolute control, prisoners created niches of social reality and interaction.

Keywords

Buchenwald, concentration camp, total institution, social stratification, absolute power, prisoner society, social construction of reality, internal stratification, norm formation, solidarity, communist prisoners, criminal prisoners, labeling system, self-government, Nazi terror.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this master thesis?

The work examines the social reality of victims in the Buchenwald concentration camp, specifically how prisoners constructed social hierarchies, norms, and solidarity within a system designed for absolute control.

Which specific themes are addressed?

Key themes include external stratification via the Nazi badge system, internal power struggles, the formation of social norms, and the nature of solidarity among prisoners.

What is the primary research objective?

The aim is to identify and explain the "how" and "why" of the prisoners' social life and to move beyond the assumption that prisoners were solely passive victims of the SS.

Which methodology does the author utilize?

The author uses a qualitative, hermeneutical approach, primarily interpreting historical documents, eyewitness reports, and the "Buchenwald-report" to reconstruct camp social dynamics.

What topics are discussed in the main section of the work?

The main section covers the functional development of the camp, the "external" stratification imposed by the SS, the "internal" stratification and power struggles between groups like the "Reds" and "Greens," and the evolution of norms and solidarity.

Which concepts define the social structure in Buchenwald?

The study highlights "absolute power" and "total institutions" (Goffman, Sofsky) as the overarching framework that determined the prisoners' lives and created a stratified society.

How did the categorization system function?

The SS used color-coded triangles to label prisoners, which served not only as a bureaucratic administrative tool but as a way to force social divisions and prevent a unified resistance.

What was the outcome of the power struggle between "Reds" and "Greens"?

The "Reds" (communists), leveraging their pre-concentration camp organizational skills and solidarity, eventually established a dominant position in the camp administration, often providing protection to their own cadre and some other groups.

Was there genuine solidarity in the camp?

The author argues that solidarity was generally restricted to "in-groups" (often ideological or national) and that acts of solidarity towards the entire camp were rare, though they did exist as "niches" of resistance against the SS.