A Jewish Man with the Obligatory Yellow Star on his Coat (November 1941) The "Police Order on the Identification of Jews" of September 1, 1941, required Jews in the German Reich and in the Reich Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia to wear a yellow star on their clothing. The order took effect on September 19 of that year. The Nazi leadership had considered these measures for years, but Hitler had hesitated to introduce the so-called Jewish star out of concern for international criticism. On the other hand, Polish Jews in German-occupied areas had already been forced to wear such identifying insignia since 1939. The photograph below was taken in Munich. Photo by Heinrich Hoffmann.