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Kamerun (Cameroon) 1914
The first German trading outlet was opened in Kamerun in 1868. In 1883 the German consulate - led by the German commissar Nachtigal - was open. The German Empire officially claimed the territory as the colony of Kamerun on 14 July 1884. They moved inland, breaking trade monopolies held by coastal peoples such as the Duala and steadily expanded their control.
The Germans established plantations in the forested south, especially along the coast. They made substantial investments in the colony's infrastructure, including the building of railways, roads, and hospitals. However, the indigenous peoples were reluctant to work on these projects, so the government instigated a harsh system of forced labour.
With the defeat of Germany in World War I, Kamerun became a League of Nations mandate territory and was split into French Cameroun and British Cameroons in 1919. Neukamerun, territories acquired by Germany in 1911, became part of French Equatorial Africa.
German banknotes in Kamerun
Until 1914 the same banknotes as in Germany were used in Kamerun (Cameroon). When the Great war started the supply of money in the colony was disrupted because of the British sea blockade. Therefore the governor of Kamerun issued treasury notes for the colony.
Originally it was planned to issue bills with the denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Mark. The denominations of 10 and 20 Marks have not been discovered yet. So it is unclear, if they have actually been issued.
The backside of each note contained an extract from the legislation for this note issue:
Extract
from the enactment of the Governor of Cameroon for the issue of treasury notes as per 12 August 1914.
§3
The treasury notes are valid as legal tender from the day the war starts until the end of a 12 month period beginning at the day of an armistice. The day of armistice will be declared publicly in the gazette.
§5
Those who reproduce or falsify these treasury notes or who own and start to circulate reproduced or falsified treasury notes has to face punishment based on §§146ff of the Reichsstrafgesetzbuch (Imperial criminal code).
5 Mark
This treasury note was issued by the Kaiserliches Gouvernement von Kamerun (Imperial government of Cameroon) in Duala. It is dated 12 August 1914.
(Ro 962)
50 Mark
This treasury note was issued by the Kaiserliches Gouvernement von Kamerun (Imperial government of Cameroon) in Duala. It is dated 12 August 1914.
(Ro 963)
100 Mark
This treasury note was issued by the Kaiserliches Gouvernement von Kamerun (Imperial government of Cameroon) in Duala. It is dated 12 August 1914.
(Ro 964)
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