Prisoner functionaries

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In Nazi concentration and labor camps the system of Funktionshäftlinge (singular: Funktionshäftling), or prisoner functionaries was developed. These were the prisoners with certain duties of supervision of fellow prisoners, assisting the camp administration and guards (SS-Totenkopfverbände), in exchange for various privileges. These should be distinguished from various work units known as Sonderkommando (not to be confused with the SS-Sonderkommandos). Of these, best known are Kapos. The system was introduced in early Nazi camps of 1933–1934. An estimated 10% of the Nazi camp population were Funktionshäftlinge. The position of Funktionshäftlinge was controversial in many respects. Their life was easier, but they were hated by others. Further, they were split in their motivations for choosing this work: some of them were true agents of the SS or enjoyed the vested power, while others used their position to help the survival of other prisoners (often prioritizing their preferred prisoners).