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5 Marks Independent West Army
| Issuer | Western Volunteer Army (Западная Добровольческая Армия) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1919 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 5 Marks |
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| Obverse description | Imperial Russian double-headed eagle arms at upper centre, flanked by large ornate numeral 5 on each side. The denomination ПЯТЬ МАРОКЪ (Five Marks) is inscribed in bold Cyrillic lettering across the centre, with the header ВРЕМЕННЫЙ РАЗМЕННЫЙ ЗНАКЪ (Temporary Exchange Note) at top. A lengthy Russian-language text body occupies the lower portion, with two manuscript facsimile signatures below the issuing authority inscription ЗАПАДНОЙ ДОБРОВОЛЬЧЕСКОЙ АРМIИ · МИТАНА 10·ОКТ·1919, and a serial number prefixed Ж in the upper right corner. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | ВРЕМЕННЫЙ РАЗМЕННЫЙ ЗНАКЪ ПЯТЬ МАРОКЪ ЗАПАДНОЙ ДОБРОВОЛЬЧЕСКОЙ АРМIИ · МИТАНА 10·ОКТ·1919 Командующiй Западной Добровольческой Армiей Начальникъ Отдѣла Государственнаго Хозяйства при Армiи За подѣлку сихъ размѣнныхъ знаковъ виновные подвергаются строгому наказанiю |
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| Comments |
The Western Volunteer Army under Pavel Bermondt-Avalov occupied Mitau briefly in 1919 and issued this currency as part of a broader — and largely delusional — campaign to hold territory against both Bolshevik and Latvian nationalist forces simultaneously. Bermondt-Avalov's command was never recognized by the White movement's main leadership, and his army was effectively a rogue force, funded in part by German officers who never fully accepted the armistice terms.
The notes were printed locally in Mitau during the occupation and circulated under duress in a region where confidence in any issuing authority was essentially zero. Latvian forces drove Bermondt-Avalov out by December 1919, ending the currency's brief run almost immediately after it began.