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PoW Camp Money (Lagergeld)
During World War 2 the German army "Wehrmacht" issued
specific money for their prisoners of war camps. This PoW money was used from 1939 - 1945.
Often it was rubberstamped on the back by the administration of the camp it was used in.
The German word "Lagergeld" literally means Camp Money. The money was denominated in
Reichsmark and was issued by Oberkommando der Wehrmacht - the
high command of the German military forces.
The PoW Camp Money was given out to captured officers only. Other ranks did not receive
these allowances. It could be used inside the camp to buy some personal goods from canteens.
The possession of real German currency was strictly forbidden for PoW's.
The allowance for American officers was Reichsmark 7.50 per month.
The text on these bills is printed in Fraktur font and
reads as follows:
Dieser Gutschein gilt nur als Zahlungsmittel für Kriegsgefangene und darf von ihnen nur
innerhalb der Kriegsgefangenenlager oder bei Arbeitskommandos in den ausdrücklich
hierfür bezeichneten Verkaufsstellen verausgabt und entgegengenommen werden. Der
Umtausch dieses Gutscheines in gesetzliche Zahlungsmittel darf nur bei der zuständigen
Kasse der Lagerverwaltung erfolgen. Zuwiderhandlungen, Nachahmungen und Fälschungen
werden bestraft.
This translates into English like this:
This coupon is valid only as means of payment for PoW's and may be used by them only within
the PoW camps or on working assignments and redeemed and accepted only in points of sale,
which are designated for this purpose. The exchange of this coupon into legal tender may
only be carried out by the designated cashiers of the camp administration. Contraventions,
imitations and forgeries will be punished.
The bills are sealed by the
German Eagle holding the Swastika of the Nazis.
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