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Red triangle

The red triangle is a downward-pointing in red, instituted by the Nazi administration in 1937–1938 as part of a color-coded system to categorize and stigmatize prisoners in concentration camps, with the red variant specifically designating political opponents such as communists, social democrats, socialists, and trade unionists. This marking, sewn onto striped prisoner uniforms alongside an identification number, facilitated surveillance, labor assignment, and dehumanization within the , where political prisoners formed one of the largest initial groups targeted for incarceration and exploitation. The symbol's stark simplicity enabled rapid visual amid the regime's expanding , which by 1945 encompassed millions across sites like Dachau and Auschwitz, though exact numbers of red-triangle bearers vary due to incomplete records and camp-specific variations. In the 21st century, the red triangle has been repurposed by —the Palestinian Sunni-Islamist organization governing and designated a terrorist entity by the , , , and others—as a targeting overlay in post-October 7, 2023, propaganda videos produced by its military wing, designating military assets, personnel, and occasionally civilians for attack. This adoption, evoking the Nazi-era badge's connotation of designated victims, has proliferated among pro-Hamas online networks and protesters, prompting legal scrutiny in over its potential to incite violence or glorify , while critics highlight its ironic alignment with historical symbols of authoritarian oppression. Such usage underscores causal continuities in for marking adversaries, though claims of pre-Hamas Palestinian origins tied to Ottoman-era revolts lack primary evidentiary support beyond anecdotal assertions in activist circles.

Symbols and Emblems

Bass Brewery Trademark

The red triangle trademark of , a distinctive equilateral red triangle enclosing the word "BASS" in white lettering, served as the primary identifier for Bass Pale Ale, a flagship product of the Burton upon Trent-based brewery founded in 1777 by William Bass. The design emerged as part of the brewery's branding for its pale ale exports, with evidence from court records indicating its use predated 1855, initially appearing on labels and barrels to distinguish the amid growing competition in the market. Under the United Kingdom's Trade Marks Registration Act of 1875, which established formal protection to prevent imitation and counterfeiting, registered the red triangle on January 1, 1876, as Trade Mark No. 1 for " & Co's ." This registration marked the inaugural entry in the UK's trademark registry, predating similar protections in other jurisdictions and setting a for graphical marks in commerce. The simple geometric shape proved effective for visibility on wooden casks and printed labels, facilitating recognition by publicans and consumers during an era when dominated exports, reaching volumes of over 1 million barrels annually by the late 19th century. The trademark's enduring legal and cultural impact is evident in its depiction in Édouard Manet's 1882 painting A Bar at the Folies-Bergère, where Bass bottles with the red triangle appear prominently on the bar counter, underscoring the beer's international prestige. It withstood early challenges, including infringement disputes that reinforced its distinctiveness, and remains the UK's oldest continuously recognized trademark. Following Bass Brewery's acquisition by Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2000, the mark persists on products marketed as "Bass Pale Ale," with occasional rebranding to emphasize its historical status, such as "Bass Trademark Number One" in select regions, though production has shifted away from traditional Burton methods.

Nazi Concentration Camp Identification

In the Nazi concentration camp system, prisoners were required to wear colored cloth badges, typically inverted triangles sewn onto their uniforms, to denote the alleged reason for their arrest and facilitate categorization by camp authorities. The red triangle specifically identified political prisoners, encompassing individuals deemed opponents of the National Socialist regime, including communists, social democrats, trade unionists, and others arrested for activities such as political agitation or . This classification began to standardize in 1937–1938, with the SS implementing the triangle system across camps like Dachau to replace earlier, less uniform methods such as distinctive clothing or armbands; by 1939, it was more rigidly enforced, allowing guards to quickly identify and often assign privileges or punishments based on category—political prisoners sometimes received marginally better treatment than groups like criminals or due to perceived potential for "re-education." For non-German political prisoners, a indicating (e.g., "P" for ) was added to the ; Jewish political prisoners wore the red superimposed over a yellow one, forming a six-pointed star. In camps such as Auschwitz, the red triangle was prominently applied to Poles arrested under "" orders by the for suspected anti-Nazi activities, reflecting the regime's broad suppression of perceived threats following the 1939 . The badges, produced in camps or externally, were mandatory on both chest and back of striped uniforms, with violations punishable by beatings or execution; this visual stigmatization reinforced hierarchical prisoner subjugation, where red-triangle wearers could serve as kapos overseeing lower-status inmates. Despite the label, many political designations stemmed from arbitrary denunciations or minor infractions like criticizing Hitler, underscoring the system's role in terrorizing dissent rather than solely targeting violent revolutionaries.

Inverted Red Triangle in Palestinian Militancy and Protests

The inverted red triangle emerged as a symbol in videos produced by Hamas's Brigades, the group's military wing, following the , 2023, attacks on , where it was overlaid on footage to designate military targets during combat operations. These videos, disseminated on platforms, depicted militant actions against forces, with the triangle serving as a visual marker to emphasize points of engagement or elimination. In Palestinian militancy, the symbol has been associated specifically with propaganda efforts to glorify armed resistance, appearing in content that frames attacks on positions as legitimate targeting. Its adoption reflects tactical signaling in documentation, distinct from broader Palestinian iconography like the flag, though some activists have retroactively linked it to historical resistance motifs without direct evidentiary ties. The symbol's use extended to pro-Palestinian protests and online activism after October 2023, where it was employed on , banners, and to express solidarity with militants and signal opposition to operations. Demonstrators, including on U.S. campuses and in European rallies, incorporated it into profiles, stickers, and —such as painting it on a in July 2024—to evoke resistance narratives, though interpretations vary: proponents view it as emblematic of Palestinian defiance, while critics, including authorities debating a in 2024, argue it incites by mirroring Hamas's targeting intent. Platforms like restricted its form in October 2024 due to associations with sanctioned militant groups. In events marking the anniversary in 2025, U.S. activists reaffirmed its use amid calls for , blending it with broader anti-Israel messaging.

Geographical and Biological References

Red Triangle Marine Region

The Red Triangle is a roughly triangular oceanic region off the coast, bounded by to the north, the to the west, and Año Nuevo Island near to the south. This area spans approximately 1,200 square miles and encompasses nutrient-rich zones that support dense populations of marine mammals, including northern elephant seals, California sea lions, and harbor seals, which serve as primary prey for apex predators. The region's name derives from its shape on nautical charts and its association with elevated risks of great white shark encounters, marking it as one of three global hotspots for these predators, alongside areas off and . Ecologically, the Red Triangle functions as a critical , feeding ground, and aggregation site for the northeastern Pacific white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) population, estimated at around 300 adult and sub-adult individuals in the broader zone, with seasonal migrations peaking in fall when sharks congregate near pinniped colonies. Genetic studies indicate this population is distinct from those in other Pacific regions, such as off , exhibiting unique residency patterns tied to local prey availability rather than long-distance oceanic migrations. Upwelling-driven productivity sustains a where white sharks regulate pinniped numbers, preventing of forests and maintaining ; removal of sharks could disrupt these dynamics, as evidenced by observed shifts in coastal ecosystems following historical . Beyond sharks, the area hosts diverse like blue whales, orcas, and seabirds, with the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary encompassing much of it to protect these interactions. Human activities intersect with the region's ecology through , , and , contributing to documented white incidents; California records show the Red Triangle accounting for about 45% of unprovoked attacks since 1950, though overall risk remains low at approximately 1 in 4.4 million per user annually. Conservation measures include federal prohibitions on white shark fishing since 1994, enforced within the national marine sanctuary, which bans and attraction of sharks for non-research purposes to minimize behavioral alterations and . Rising temperatures linked to variability have prompted shifts in , with increased sightings near urban beaches, underscoring the need for ongoing acoustic tagging and aerial surveys to inform management. These efforts prioritize empirical monitoring over precautionary closures, recognizing sharks' role in ecosystem stability.

Red Triangle Slug

The red triangle slug (Triboniophorus graeffei) is a species of large, air-breathing land slug in the family Athoracophoridae, endemic to the east coast of . It is distinguished by a prominent red triangular patch on its dorsal , which encircles the , the slug's respiratory opening. Adults typically measure 70–140 mm in length, with a creamy white or pale body coloration that provides against tree bark; unlike many introduced s, it possesses only one pair of tentacles and a reduced . As 's largest native terrestrial slug, it plays a role in forest ecosystems by on algal growths. This species inhabits coastal forests, woodlands, heathlands, and urban gardens from northern (near Mossman) southward to central (around ), with sightings common in areas like the Central Coast and greater region. It is most active during or after , when humidity is high, often climbing smooth-barked trees or rocks to feed. Individuals may enter human dwellings during wet periods to consume mould or on surfaces. The slug's diet consists primarily of microscopic and fungi scraped from the bark of smooth (such as Eucalyptus ) or rocks, leaving characteristic scalloped feeding trails. As a detritivore-herbivore, it contributes to cycling in its habitat but poses no significant agricultural threat, unlike invasive . Little is documented on its reproduction, though as a pulmonate gastropod, it is hermaphroditic and likely deposits clutches of eggs in moist or leaf litter, with juveniles emerging after incubation in damp conditions. No formal conservation assessments indicate it is threatened, though from may affect local populations.

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