Marking of Jews had been practised during the Middle Ages in different forms. In Poland and the occupied territories of the Soviet Union, the Germans had introduced different markings of Jews right after the occupation. Within Germany and Austria, the yellow star was introduced only on September 19, 1941. All Jews above the age of 6 had to wear a yellow star with black inscription Jew on the left side of their chest. The purpose of the marking was to identify and further segregate the Jews.
