Culver City,
California
x
Personenidentifizierung Lehrbuch erste Fassung
Maker: Unknown
Date Made: n.d.
Country: German Democratic Republic
Materials: paper; cardboard; metal
Measurements: 32 cm x 29 cm x 5.5 cm; 12 5/8 in x 11 7/16 in x 2 3/16 in; 21 cm x 15 cm; 8 1/4 in x 5 7/8 in
Pages of the booklet "Grundlagen der Personenidentifizierung in grenzüberschreitenden Verkehr" or "Basics of Personal Identification in Cross-Border Traffic" separated, photocopied, and filed in a black two-ring binder. The booklet has introductory sections that discuss "What is to be Understood under the Term 'Identity'?" ("Was ist under dem Begriff 'Identität' zu verstehen?", as well as explaining the development and significance of identity control at border crossing checkpoints. The booklet proceeds to explain the importance of various external physical characteristics in comparing identity documents with persons, and their capacity for change throughout a person's lifetime. For example, the booklet explains that body size is a fairly constant characteristic in adults and tends not to change too drastically. In addition, it states that eye color is only a useful aspect of identity control when it is also visible on a color passport photograph. The booklet then provides some advice for the process of identity control and comparison. This background information continues until p.17. From p. 17-36 the booklet lists the main external physical characteristics that are useful for personal identification, elaborating on the different variations and forms of each characteristic that can be exhibited. For example, according to the booklet, headshape has the basic forms of round, diamond (or rhomboid), pyramidal, square, rectangular, oval, long and thin, short and wide, biconcave, and asymmetrical. Each physical characteristic is accompanied by numbered diagrams of every possible variation with corresponding captions. Anatomical diagrams of neck muscles, ear and eye structure, etc are also included. P. 37 is titled "Zu einigen Besonderheiten der Identifizierung von Menschen aderer Rassegruppen" or "On some Particularities in Identification of People from other Race Groups". Here, the booklet begins by explaining difficulties in identity recognition of "other race groups", and goes on to create physical typologies of people of Asian and African ethnicity, with comparisons to Europeans.
Accession Number: 2017.015.047
Collection/Series: Peter Bochmann Border Guard Collection