In theory, prisoners were supposed to have their valuables returned to them when they were released. They would have to sign the back of their personal effects card to confirm this. In the first years after the Nazis came to power, prisoners were usually released again after a certain period of time, and their personal effects were given back. Imprisonment was meant primarily as a deterrent, and it was supposed to encourage Jews in particular to emigrate. After the start of World War II, however, prisoners were released much less often, which is why this field is blank on the vast majority of cards that have been preserved.
 

However, on some of the personal effects cards from Buchenwald, this field has a special feature: a stamp that dates back to the period after the liberation of the camp. Once the US Army had liberated the concentration camp, prisoners could have their personal effects returned to them. However, this stamp can also be found on the personal effects cards of people who are known to have died at Buchenwald or – as in the case of Jan Manikowski – who no longer had anything with them on their arrival that they could have handed over. So the date stamp does not necessarily mean that the person survived. A check should also always be made as to whether the name is included on one of the liberation lists.