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2 Reichsmark P.O.W. Camps
| Issuer | Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1939-1944 |
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| Shape | Rectangular |
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| Obverse description | Black letterpress text on blue paper, dominated by a large solid red triangle as central underprint. The denomination 'Gutschein über 2 Reichsmark' is printed in bold across the upper portion, above the regulatory text governing use of the voucher within prisoner-of-war camps. A Wehrmacht eagle with spread wings and swastika is positioned at the lower left, below the body of text, with the issuing authority line 'Der Chef des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht' and a manuscript countersignature appearing at the foot of the note. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Kriegsgefangenen Lagergeld Gutschein über 2 Reichsmark 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 Rasse der Lagerverwaltung erfolgen. Zuwiderhandlungen, Nachahmungen und Fälschungen werden bestraft. Der Chef des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht Im Auftrage: (Translation: Prisoner of War Camp Money. Voucher for 2 reichsmark. This voucher is valid only as a means of payment for prisoners of war and may only be issued and received by them within prisoner-of-war camps or at work details in the expressly designated sales outlets. This voucher may only be exchanged for legal tender at the responsible camp administration office. Violations, counterfeits, and forgeries will be punished. The Chief of the High Command of the Armed Forces. By order:) |
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| Comments |
The OKW issued these Lagergeld notes specifically to control purchasing power within prisoner-of-war camps, a system mandated under Article 12 of the 1929 Geneva Convention. The convention required that captured officers receive pay equivalent to their rank — but Germany had no intention of letting that pay circulate freely. These notes were the solution: a parallel currency redeemable only at the camp canteen, worthless outside the wire.
The series ran across multiple denominations and was used in camps throughout the Reich and occupied territories. Allied POWs occasionally used the notes in escape attempts as seed money, though their obvious design made them nearly useless beyond the camp perimeter.
S&B#195 is among the more commonly encountered denominations from this series — the 2 Reichsmark value corresponds to roughly half a day's pay for an enlisted prisoner under the Geneva schedule.