German Propaganda Currency of WW II 2

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GermanPropagandaCurrencyofWWII
Yugoslavia
Genuine100peoplebanknote
http://www.psywarrior.com/WWIIAxisBanknotes2.html
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Germanpropagandaparodyof100peoplebanknote
Dr.PokrajcicillustratesanotherGermanpropagandaleafletdisguisedascurrency.Hestates:
Ihaveawellpreserved100peoplenotefoundintheZubciregionnearTrebinje,
about40kilometersfromDubrovnik,inMay1944.ItwasgiventomebyaPartisan
courierwhotookitasasouvenirjustafterabatchhadbeenairdropped.The
Tchetniksalsohadspreadthesefliersontheirpassagethroughthevillagesthey
traveled.
InanarticleinCoins,October1966,Pokrajcicelaboratedfurther:
Thepapermoneyflierworthonehundredpeople,whichisacopyoftheold
Yugoslaviandinarnote,reads:"RefugeeIdentityPaper.Warrantingfreedom,life
andbreadfor100people"Thisbanknotebringsyoufreedomandsavesyourlife.
Comeovertousbeforeitistoolate.Saveyourlifewhilethereisstilltime.Doaway
withyourcommissarsandcome.[Acommissarwasapartyofficialinnominal
chargeofapartisanmilitaryunit].
R.G.AucklandsaysinAirDroppedPropagandaCurrency,1972edition:
OnJanuary26,1944theGermanauthoritiesoccupyingYugoslaviaproclaimedan
amnestyforallpartisanswhowoulddeserttotheGermanArmy.Allpartisanheld
areaswereswampedwithleafletsofeverysize,colorandtextimaginable.
AmongthiswhirlwindofpaperwasacopyoftheprewarYugoslav100dinarnote.It
wasmadetoappearanoriginal,butacloselookwouldrevealthatithadbeen
cleverlydoctoredtoincludepropagandaonbothbackandfront.Onthefrontwas
alsotheWehrmachtseal.Thenotewas,infact,asafeconductpassguaranteeing
freedomandfoodfor100partisansiftheysurrenderedtotheGermanforceswith
theirweapons.
TheGermanparodyisofthe100dinaraNationalBankoftheKingdomofYugoslavianoteof
1929,worth"100ljudi"("100people"),bearsasafeconductmessagesinCyrillicdeclaring
"RefugeeIdentityPaper.Warrantingfreedom,life,andbreadfor100people.Thisbanknote
bringsyoufreedomandsavesyourlife.Comeovertousbeforeitistoolate.Saveyourlife
whilethereisstilltime.Doawaywithyourcommissarsandcome."(ACommissarisa
CommunistPartypoliticalofficerattachedtoaPartisanmilitaryunit.)Bothsidesofthe
parodyareprintedinpurple,whereasthegenuinenoteisinpalemulticolorwithayellow
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underprintandhasawatermark.Thebanknoteisdated26January1944,thedateofa
GermanamnestyforPartisanswhowouldsurrendertotheGermans.TheNazieagleand
swastikaappearprintedinthewatermarkareaatrightonthefront.Onthebackinthe
watermarkareaareinstructionsinGermanforGermansoldiers.Atlowerrightontheback
isasmall"PSKNS",whichidentifiestheproducerasthePropagandaAbteilungSudost
StaffelKroatien,Nebenstelle(SubsidiaryOffice)Sarajevo.ThePSKwasheadquarteredin
Belgrade,andhadbranchdetachmentsinSarajevo,BanjaLuka,Dubrovnik,andelsewhere.
ThesesafeconductpasseswereairdroppedinoccupiedYugoslavia,mainlyinCroatiaand
SloveniawherethePartisanmovementwasstrongest,andmorerarelyinMacedoniaand
Bosnia&Herzegovina.NonewasfoundinSerbiaorMontenegro.
Itisnotagoodimitationoftheoriginal.Theparodyhasbeenprintedinvioletand,whereas
thegenuinenoteispredominatelyviolet,itisalsoprintedwithyellowandblackinks.Wehave
seenseveralvariationsofthisparody.Onevarietyiscleanlyprinted,andtheshadinglinesare
ingeneraldelicatelydrawnandlightlyinkedtoconformtothestyleofthegenuinenote.This
parodyexistsintwosubvarieties,differinginthedistancebetweenthesignatureandthe
smalltoweronthefront.Anothervarietyismoreheavilyinked,withsomeoftheshadingof
thegenuinenotetransformedintosolidpatchesofink.Wethereforelistthreevarietieslightly
inked,withsignature2mmfromtower,lightlyinked,withsignature5mmfromtower,and
heavilyinked.
German10lireSlovenia
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TheGermansalsocopiedYugoslavpartisannotes.SchwanandBoling,inWorldWarII
MilitaryCurrency,BNRPress,1978,tellusthattheoriginalpartisannotesweresponsoredby
theSlovenianNationalLiberationCouncilandlithographed"inthewoods."Dr.Pokrajcic
mentionsinPaperMoneyoftheYugoslavLiberationMovementsthat:
IalsohaveaninterestingPartisan10lirenoteprintedduringthePeople's
LiberationWarinSloveniain1944.TheWhiteGuardsmen(aFascistmilitary
formationrecruitedinSlovenia)andtheGermancommandwerestunnedatthe
appearanceofPartisanbanknotesinaterritorytheythoughttheyhadastronggrip
upon.
Thepeople,ofcourse,tookgreatinterestinthesefirstPartisannotes.Quickly
spiritedaway,theyforetoldoftherapidfalloftyrannyanddefeatoftheinvaders.
TheGermansandtheWhiteGuardsmenthenmadethesame10lirenotein
Ljubljana.
Sincethepartisannoteswereproducedunderfieldconditions,theprintingiscrude.The
Germanimitationisobviouslyphotographicallyproducedandthefaceisanalmostperfect
copyoftheoriginalbanknote,exceptforthecolor,whichisaslightlydarkerred.However,on
thebackoftheGermannotewefindthefollowingtextinblocklettersindarkredonalight
bluebackground:
Thisbillisvalueless,justlikethepromisesfromMoscowandLondon.
TheGermanparodiesweredisseminatedfromthemiddleof1944untiltheliberationof
Slovenia.Collectorsarewarnedthatverygoodforgeriesofthispropagandabanknoteare
beingprintedinSloveniaandhavebeenofferedonEBaystartingat$5U.S..Theybearno
markingsuchasreproductionorreplica.CaveatEmptor.
ItappearsthatbesidesproducingpropagandaparodiesofYugoslavliberationcurrency,the
Germansalsocounterfeitedsomeofthenotes.Morelikelyitwastheotherwayaround.They
werealreadycounterfeitingthenotesandhadtheplatessoproducingapropagandabanknote
wasjustgoingonestepfurther.Becausethepartisanswereusingtheirownbanknotesinthe
liberatedareastheirmoralewasliftedandtheywereabletopurchaseweaponsand
ammunition.AccordingtoAdolfBurger,oneoftheJewishinmatecounterfeitersinthe
OperationBernhardteam,theexactsamenoteasdepictedabovewascounterfeitedbythe
Germansinanattempttounderminetheirreawakeningeconomiesandtheirwarefforts.
ThecounterfeitisdepictedinBurgersGermanlanguagebook,Unternehmen
Bernhard(OperationBernhard),EditionHentrich,Berlin1992.
Burgermentionstheforgeriesagainin:TheDevil'sWorkshop,FrontlineBooks,London,
2009.Hesaysinpart:
InordertounderminetheYugoslavpeoples'liberationlone"tricolored"Tito
banknoteswereexactlyforgedinSachsenhausen.Thereproductionsweresoexact
downtothelastdetailofpaperandprintthatitwasimpossibletodistinguishthem
fromtherealthingHundredsofthousandsofthesebanknoteshadalreadybeen
printedintheforgeryworkshoptodestabilizethecurrencyinliberatedYugoslavia.
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50dinaraSerbianbanknoteforgery
Sometimesthereisdoubtaboutwhetherornotabanknoteisagovernmentsponsored
forgery.Forinstance,thereisthecaseoftheallegedUnitedStatesgovernmentforgeryof
theSerbia50dinaraSerbianNationalBanknoteof1May1942.Ifirstranacrossabrickof
about100ofthesebanknotesabout1990.ThesellerwasthewifeofadeceasedWWIIairman
whoclaimedthatthebanknotesweregovernmentforgeriesissuedtoherhusbandwhenhe
flewoverYugoslavia.Hewastousethemtobribethelocalsandpayforsuppliesifhewas
shotdown.TherewasnoproofofsuchanoperationsoIneverquitebelievedthestory.
Recentlyanothersuchnotewasofferedforsale,onceagainfromtheestateofadeceased
airman,butfromadifferentpartofthecountry.Thebackgroundstorywasexactlythesame.
So,althoughwecannotsayforsurethatthesebanknoteswerepreparedbytheOSSorsome
otherclandestineagencytobeusedbydownedpilots,wecansaythatthereissomeinteresting
circumstantialevidence.Theallegedforgeriesareofexcellentquality.Intheinitialoffering
thebanknoteshadtheredserialnumbersM.0234/101toM.0234/200.Themorerecent
banknotehadtheserialnumberM.0234/499,whichindicatesthatitisfromthesamegeneral
printing.OneoftheveryminordifferencesInotedbetweenthegenuineandforgedbanknotes
areintheissuedateonthefront,MAJ1942,inwhichthecrossbarintheAisslantedin
thegenuineandperfectlyhorizontalintheforgeryandthenumber9whichisbroken
slightlyinthegenuineandperfectlysmoothintheforgery.Thereisasmallboxatthebottom
ofthebackofthenoteandinitthefirstCyrillicletterhasabreakatthebottomleftofthe
letterehf,whereastheletterisperfectinthegenuine.
TheSovietUnion
TheAbteilungfurWehrmachtPropaganda(PropagandasectionoftheGermanArmy)of
theOberkommandoderWehrmacht(ArmyHighCommand)producedatleastthreeparodiesof
Sovietbanknotes.Someofthese"OKW/WPr"productionsarefiledintheGermanarchives
atFreiburg.TheyhavebeenillustratedinthebookHeilBeil,OrtwinBuchbenderandHorst
Schuh,SeewaldVeriag,Stuttgart,1974.
Thenotescopiedwerethe1Chervonetz3and10ChervonetsaRussianStateBankNotesof
1937.Eachnoteisaphotographicreproductionoftheoriginalonthefront.The1chervonets
parodyisgreeninsteadofthegreyfoundonthegenuine.Itishardtounderstandhowthe
Germanscouldmakesuchamistake.Theycertainlyhadadequatetimetodeterminethe
propercolor.The3chervonetsaparodyisintheproperredcolor,buttheserialnumbersare
printedinblackinsteadoftheredofthegenuinenote.Becauseoftheseerrors,thefinder
couldeasilyidentifyboth.Eachbearsasafeconductpassandpropagandamessageonthe
back.The10Chervonestagenuinenotewasprintedindarkblue.60+yearsoftimeand
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sunlighthasbleachedtheparodyintoadullgrayprintingonbrowncrinkledpaper.Itis
impossibletotellwhatthenotelookedlikewhenfirstprinted
Genuine1Chervonetzbanknotefrontandback
AtthepresentfivedifferentversionsofaGermanpropagandaparodyofthe1
chervonetzRussianStateBanknoteof1937withpropagandatextonthebackareknown,
eachwithadifferentserialnumber.Thefrontsaregoodreproductionsofthegenuinenotes.
TheywerepreparedbyPropagandaKompanie680oftheGerman20thMountainArmy
(commandedbyGeneralE.Dietl),stationedinthefarnorthofFinland.
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1Chervonetzparody,serial#145275
Thefirstnotediscoveredboretheserialnumber145275.Itisprintedonoliveorgreenish
paperonthefront,andwasfirstdepictedinHeilBeil!,(HailHatchet!),Buchbender,Ortwin
andSchuh,SeewaldVerlag,Stuttgart,1974.Theleafletbearsthecodenumber23710.43on
thebackwhichimpliesthatitwasdisseminatedinOctober1943.Atthelowerrightonthe
backisaNazieagleandswastika,andtheCyrillicandGermantextPassierschein.
(SafeConductPass).150,000leafletswereproducedinOctober1943.Thereisa15line
propagandamessageonthebackonagreypaper:
10rubles...Howmanythingswereyouabletobuyfortenrublesintheolddaysand
whatcanyougetforitnow?Thepurchasingpoweroftherubleisgettingtobeless
andlessandsoonitwillbeaworthlesspieceofpaper.
Thepricesforfooditemsandthenecessitiesofdailylifehaveincreasedenormously
andtheblackmarketintheSovietUnionisflourishing.Partyfunctionariesand
Jewsareworkingdarkdealsathomewhileyouatthefronthavetosacrificeyourlife
forthesecriminals.Soonyouwillseethereason,sokeepthistenrublenote.Itwill
guaranteeyoursafereturntoafreeRussianafterthewar.Cometouswiththisbill
andyouwillhavesavedyourownlife.Hidethisbillamongtheotherbanknotesin
yourwallet.Ifyouhavetwoofthese,passoneontoyourcomrades.
AtthelowerrightareaGermaneagleandthesafeconductstatementPassierschein.The
propagandaterm10rublesona1chervonetznoteisduetothefactthatthechervonetzwas
originallyequalto10goldrubles.Onechervonetzcontained7.74234gramsofpuregoldin
theory,buttheywerenotconvertibleintogoldoranyequivalentofgold.
Formanyyearsthatwastheonlynoteknowninthisseries.WiththefalloftheSoviet
Unionmuchoftheirwartimearchivesbecameavailableforresearch.
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BanknotesfoundinWartimeArtilleryShells
Inthisarticle,mostoftheitemsweshowarecleanandcrisp.Thereadershouldunderstand
thatthisisararityandIamshowingonlythefinestnotesthatIhaveboughtoverthepast
sevendecades.Ingeneral,thesebanknoteleafletsarefoundincorrodedoldartilleryshells
thatfailedtoexplodeandburiedthemselvesinthedirt.After70+yearswhentheshellsare
dugupandemptiedthecontentsarerottedbydampnessandthecheappaperfallsapartin
yourhands.Thisisanexampleofsuchagroup,foundinanoldWWIIleafletshell.
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1Chervonetzparodyfrontandback,serial#803535
Analmostidenticalleafletbearingtheserialnumber803535leafletandcoded23710.43
onoldbrownpaperwithnotraceofanycolor,perhapsanagingeffect,wasdiscoveredin
GreatBritaininOctober2000.Thepropagandamessageisidenticalto145275above.Atthe
lowerrightonthebackisaNazieagleandswastika,andtheCyrillicandGermantext
Passierschein.(SafeConductPass).
1Chervonetzparody,serial#178400
Abanknoteleafletwithserialnumber178400wasfoundonacreamcoloredpaperinthelate
1990s.Onceagainthecodenumberis23710.43andthepropagandamessageisidenticalto
145275above.Itappearsthatthesethreenoteswereallpartofthesamepropaganda
campaignandonlytheserialnumbersonthefrontwerechanged.Atthelowerrightonthe
backisaNazieagleandswastika,andtheCyrillicandGermantextPassierschein.
(SafeConductPass).Itappearsthatthissamecodenumberwasusedwithnumerousserial
numbers.In2014,another1Chervonetzparodycoded23710.43wasofferedatauctionwith
theserialnumber947732.
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1Chervonetzparody,SerialNo.208125
AnotherGermanparodyofthe1chervonetzRussianStateBanknoteof1937surfacedinearly
2004.Onceagain,thefrontisagoodreproductionofthegenuinenote.Thisitemmayhave
beenpreparedbythesamePropagandaKompanie680asthepreviousitem,buttheleaflet
codeisinadifferentformandtheoriginatorofthepropagandanoteisasyetunknown.
ThenotebearsthecodeLA54onthebackandaboxedsafeconductmessagemostlyin
Cyrillic,andadditionaltextinCyrillicandGerman.EightlinesofCyrillictextareflankedby
theNazieagleontheleft,andaninvertedtrianglecontainingarifleimplantedinsoilinside
thetriangleontheright.
Thesymbolwasusedaspartofapropagandacampaignin1942thatusedtheslogansStalin
kaputandStickthebayonetintotheground.Infact,thesewordsarefoundattheendof
thelastlineoftheleaflet.ThethreelettersontopofthetrianglearethefirstlettersofSticky
wsemlio,("Stickthebayonetintotheground."TheideawastotelltheSovietsoldiertouse
thepasswordStalinkaput,andnottothrowhisrifleawaybuttostickitintotheground
upsidedownasahistoricEuropeansignofsurrender.
Thepropagandatextonthebackofthenoteis:
SafeConductPassPassierschein[safeconductpassinRussianandGerman]This
safeconductpassmaybeusedforanunlimitednumberofcommanders,soldiers,
andpoliticalcommissarsoftheRedArmytocomeovertothesideoftheGerman
armedforces,theirallies,theRussianLiberationArmyandUkrainian,Caucasian,
Cossack,TurkestanandTartarLiberationdetachments.
Youmayalsocomeovertooursidewithoutasafeconductpass.Raisebothyour
handshighandshout"StalinKaput"or"ShtikiVZemliu."[Bayonetinthe
ground].
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Theterm"RedArmy"ontheleafletisspelledRKKAandliterallymeansRaboche
KrestianskaiaKrasnaiaArmiia,"or"WorkersPeasantsRedArmy.
AttherightoftheRussianpropagandatextthereisashortGermanlanguagemessage:
Thissafeconductpassisforcommanders,soldiers,andpoliticalcommissarsofthe
RedArmy.
1Chervonetzparody,SerialNo.314777
Afifthbanknoteleafletwithserialnumber314777wasfoundin2006,insideabout30buried
Germanpropagandagrenades(GewehrPropagandagranate)intheKareliaareaonthe
FinnishFront.ThegrenadeswerefoundinboxesinthewartimepositionsofSS
divisionNORD.Eachgrenadecontainedabout4060leafletsof11differenttypes.The60year
oldleafletrollswereremovedfromtherustygrenades,placedintowater,carefullyseparated
andthenindividuallydried.The17linetextmessageonthebackissimilartothe(10
rubles)messagedepictedabove,butmuchofthetexthasbeenchanged.Thecodenumber
forthisvarietyis3365.44whichindicatesitwasdisseminatedinMay1944.Atthelowerright
onthebackisaNazieagleandswastika,andtheCyrillicandGermantextPassierschein.
(SafeConductPass).Thetextis:
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10Rubles
Howmanythingswereyouabletobuyfortenrublesintheolddaysbeforethewar?
Andwhatcanyoubuyforforachervonetztoday?Thepurchasingpoweroftheruble
isgettingtobelessandlessandsoonitwillbeaworthlesspieceofpaper.
IfyouhaveabankaccountinGosBank,thenyoucanputyourmoneyinitwithout
anyworries.(Why,thegovernmentevenasksyoutodothatinpropaganda
postcards).Indeed,youcanbesurethatGosBankwilltakecareofyourmoneyand
useittocontinuethiswarandthatyouandyourcomradeswilldieinthiswar.And
ifyouarekilledordiethenthebankwillhavenoreasontopaybackyourmoney.
Ifyoudonothaveabankaccountthenyoucanuseyourrublesforcigarettepaper.
IntheBlackMarketbehindthelines,theKikesandtheCommunistParty
membersarechargingsuchexortbitantpricesthatyouwithyourrubleswillsimply
beridiculed.(1kilogrambutter=800rubles!)
Butour10rubleswillretainitsvalue!Useitasasurrenderpassandyouwillsave
yourhealthandlife,andafterthewar,wholeandsound,youwillreturntoyour
nativeland!
Hidethisleafletinyourwalletanduseitassoonaspossible!
GosBank(theStateBankoftheUSSR)wastheSovietUnion'smonobank.Characteristicof
commandeconomies,monobankscombinecentralandcommercialbankingfunctionsintoa
singlestateownedinstitution.ThesavingsbanksplayedalargeroleinfundingRussia's
involvementinWorldWarII.Notonlydidtheyprovideloanstothewareffort,theyalso
accepteddonationsfromthepeopleforthedefenseeffortandsoldticketsforgovernmentrun
lotteriesthatraisedmoneyforthewar.Intheleafletabove,theGermanswarntheRussians
thatthemoneytheyareplacinginGosbankwillallbelost.
Genuine3Chervonetsabanknote
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3Chervonetsaparody
The3chervonetsaRussianStateBanknoteof1937withpropagandatextonthebackbears
theserialnumber960070andhasthefollowingRussianlanguagemessage:
MurderedbyBolsheviks!(19171944).
Yearsofrevolutionandcivilwar(19171923)2,200,000killed.14,500,000people
starvedtodeath(191821and193233).10,000,000werekilledinhardlaborcamps.
6,688,000werekilledduringpunitivecampaigns.3,270,000werekilledintheborder
areasconqueredbytheRussians.18,000,000werekilledordisabledduringthe
SecondWorldWar(194144).
Total:54,665,000.12,000,000peoplehavealreadyescapedfromBolshevik
liquidationbysurrenderingtoourforces.Takethispaperandsaveyourlifebeforeit
istoolate.
Ifthereaderisconfusedbythevariousspellingsofthedenomination,thesenotesarealso
knownasTchervontzi,Chervonetz,Chervonca,Chervonec,TscherwonezandKarbowanez.
Thisleafletbanknoteiscoded3456.44.OnceagainwefindtheGermanEagleatlowerright
andtheword"Passierschein."TheGermansprinted150,000ofthebanknotesinJune1944.
AGermanofficialproductiondocumentofpropagandamaterialpreparedbetweenJune15
and30,1944statesthat150,000ofthe"3TscherwonzenScheinNr.345"wereprinted.The
lettermentionsthattheLuftwaffehadasyetdisseminatednoneoftheleaflets.Propaganda
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Kompanie680oftheGerman20thMountainArmypreparedtheletter.Wefindmore
informationaboutthisunitinDasTonendeErz,OrtwinBuchbender,SeewaldVeriag,
Stuttgart,1978.
Thisbook,whichisthehistoryoftheGermanpropagandacampaignsagainsttheSoviet
UnioninWorldWarII,showsPK680beingstationedinthefarnorthintheareaofLapland.
ItsheadquarterswereinRovaniemi,Finland.Atthetimethebanknoteswereprinted,a
"PropagandaKompanie"wasmadeupof23officers,38noncommissionedofficersand60
enlistedmen.Thisisoneofthefewtimesthatwecanpositivelyidentifythemakersofa
wartimepropagandabanknote.
Genuine10ChervonetsaRussianStateBanknote
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10Chervonetsaparody
The10chervonetsaRussianStateBanknoteof1937firstappearedinearly2006.Itbearsthe
serialnumber480292andhasthefollowinglongRussianlanguagepropagandamessageon
theback:
Sovietfighterreadthissmallleafletattentively.Wedonotwishtoagitateyour
knowledgewillconvinceyouofthefacts.
TheWarbetweentheUSSRandGermanyhassurpassedawarofattrition.Youseeit.
WehaveanoldspitefulenemyEngland.Weknowthatitisinnohurrytoopena
secondfront,butstill,EnglandispreparingtointrudeintoEurope.
Whethertherewillbeanintrusionornot,theOUTCOMEOFTHISWARwillbe
decidedforGermanyNOTBYFIGHTINGWITHTHEUSSR,BUTBYFIGHTING
ADECISIVEBATTLEWITHENGLAND.Weshouldprepareforit.
AstoourEasternFrontforGermanyitisunimportantifthebattlelinesare200or
300meterstothewestortheeast.Itismoreimportantthatweawaitthedaywhen
Stalinexhaustshisforces.And,thisdayisnear.Stalinorderedthedeathofthe
uniqueSovietGeneralVatutinnotabootlickerwhowasafraidtospeakthetruth
ontheoperatingtable.
tocontinuethiswar,meansinthenameofadoubtfulopportunityofavictory
overGermany,tosellourcountrytofulldependenceonAngloAmerican
capitalism
SodeclaredValutintoStalininJanuaryofthisyear.
WilltheforcesofStalinsufficetosurviveforanotheryear?
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TheincomeoftheSovietUnionin1944was250billionrubles.
Thetotalcostofthewarin1944willbe250billionrubles.
ThetotalsumofjustAmericansuppliesdeliveredtoStalinuptoNovemberoflast
yearis3.5billiongolddollars.
(AllthesefiguresaretakenfromtheMoscownewspaperTruth.Readthereportsof
thelastsessionoftheSupremebodyoftheUSSRinZverevaandRooseveltsreport
totheUnitedStatesCongress.).
Thegolddollarcostsapproximately50Sovietrubles.WHATISTHEGOLD
DOLLARYOUSHOULDKNOW!RemembertheTorgsinovskieprices.
Ifyouestimatethecostofthegolddollaras50paperrubles,thesumofStalinsdebt
byNovember1oflastyearisalready175billionrubles.
Thereisatotalof303billionowedonthewarandjustover250billioninannual
income.
Andhowdowepayforschools,hospitalsandhomesforinvalids.Howwillwepay
thesalariesofthoseworkersandemployees?Wherewillwegetthemoneytopaythe
familiesoftheRedArmytroops?
1kilogramofbreadusedtocost70rublesinSverdlovsk.Afamilywithfivechildren
receivesover200rubles.Andtoday?Andwhatwillitbeinahalfayear?
Infact,thebreaddeliveriesof1944havealreadybeenmadebythecollectivefarmers
(weknowaboutitfromyournewspapers).
Wecanwait.
Thehourofdecisionwillcome!
ThewarwillendonlyafterthedestructionofBolshevism.
Nocompromisesarepossible.
Donotdieinvain.DonotvainlysupporttheregimeofStalinwhichisdoomedfor
destruction.
Helptodestroyit!Refusetoprotectit.
StalinsdeathwillsaveRussia.
Stalinsenemiesourfriends.
TheGermanCommand
964/V.44.
ThecodenumberimpliesthatthisleafletwaspreparedinMayof1944.
Hungary
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GermanparodyofaHungarian100pengo
ThereisalsoanallegedGermanparodyofaHungarian100pengoRussianoccupation
banknote.ThebanknotehastheserialnumberCA1717inredonthefrontandthe
propagandatextontheback:
Itisonlyapieceofpaper.Itisworthless,justliketheonetheRedArmyauthority
handsouttothepeopleofoccupiedHungary.Itisobviousthatthispaperhasno
valueorpurchasingpower.Areyougoingtoworkforsuchworthlesspaper?Areyou
goingtogivethefruitsofyourlaborforsuchworthlesspaper?Youmusthelpfight
againstit,sothatyourrace,theHungarianpeople,willnotbedestroyed.Fightwith
yourwords,yourheartandyourguns!
Therehasbeensomeconjecturethatthisnotecouldhavebeenproducedafterthewarasanti
communistpropaganda.However,itwasoriginallyfoundinalargecacheofGermanWWII
propagandacurrency,anduntilprovenotherwise,shouldbeconsideredofwartimeorigin.
Germany
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TheGerman"Parachute"note
TheGermansproducedtwopropagandacurrencynotesfortheirownpeople.Thefirstisan
imitationofaGerman50marknotedatedMarch30,1933withserialnumberFI4712590.
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TheonlyknownspecimenofthisparodywasdiscoveredintheareaofZuftentown(Holland)
ontheRiverIjselinthespringof1945.ThisleafletwasprobablypreparedforGerman
militarypersonnelinanattempttocountersuccessfulAlliedpropagandacurrencyleaflets.
OnthefaceofthebanknotethewordFalschgeld(forgery)hasbeenprintedinlargeletters.
OnthebackthereisalongGermanlanguagemessage:
ATTENTION!
Paratroopers,thispertainstoyou.Forsometimeforgedcurrencyhascirculatedat
thefrontandinthehomeland.Youareexpresslywarnedagainstacceptingor
passingthiscurrency.
BIGREWARD!
Whoaretheforgers?Whereistheirworkshop?Howdoyourecognizeforged
money?Whatwillyourrewardbe?
TheheadoftheforgerygangisJosefStalin,born21.12.1879inTiflis/Kaukasus.
Religion:Godless.Specialcharacteristics:Unquenchablethirstforblood.
HisaccompliceisFranklinD.Roosevelt,born30.1.1882inNewYork.Religion:
Freemason.Profession:Fireplacespeaker.Residing:HydePark,NewYork.Special
characteristics:Poorknowledgeofgeography.
BothareassistedbyWinstonChurchill,born30.11.1874inCanterbury.Religion:
Puritan.Profession:Warmonger.Residence:DowningStreet,London.Special
characteristics:Alcoholic.
ThepoliticalforgedmoneyworkshopislocatedintheReuterNewsAgencyin
London,withbranchesinalltheJewishpoisonkitchensoftheworld.The
characteristicsoftheforgedcurrencyareshortlivedpaperbillswithdeceptive
promisestoblindanddazzlesimpletonsorwithexaggeratedannouncementsand
threatstoscaretimidhearts.
Donotletyourselfbecomeconfused!
Theyarealllieswhicharewhisperedintoyourearbytheenemy.Rememberwell:
thetruthcomesfromAdolfHitler.AdolfHitlerfightsforfreedom,breadandwork.
Theforgedmoneycomesfromtheenemy.Stalin,Churchill,Rooseveltandtheir
stoogesbringuspovertyanddeath.
Keepfaithwiththefuhrer!AdolfHitleristheguarantorofyourfuture.
YOURREWARDISVICTORY.
DesignedandprintedbyArmyCartographicOffice.ParatrooperA.O.K.[ArmyHigh
Command.]
Themessageisallblackprint,exceptforthecapitalizedtext,whichisinred.Therearesome
interestingquestionsinregardtothisbanknote.TheBritishdidnotforgeGermancurrency.
Theydidproduceparodieswithmessagesontheback.Itislikelythatitisthe50pfennignotes
withantiHitlerpropagandaonthebackthattheparachutecommandiscomplainingabout.
Readerswillfindinformationontheseparodiesinthecompanionarticle,WWIIAllied
PropagandaBanknotes.Thecomment:"theyarealllies..."wouldindicatethatitisthe
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messagesonthemoneythatbothersthehighcommand,nottheforgingofthenotes.However,
itispossiblethatbycoincidence,theGermansproducedthisantiforgeryleafletinregardto
anemergencybanknotethathadbeen"legally"forgedbytheirownpeople.Accordingto
SchwanandBoling,WorldWarIIMilitaryCurrency,BNRPress,1978:
Neartheendofthewar(1944)theReichsbankofficesinGraz.LinzandSalzburg
wereforcedtoproduceemergencycurrency.ThreeReichsmarknoteswere
reproducedfromcompletedpieces.Allhaveblurredprintingtheserialnumbersare
constantforeachdenomination.
10Reichsmark
Otherpostwarsourceshavecreditedthelocalarmycommander,Schorner,asthesponsorof
theemergencycurrency.Threenoteswerereproducedinthedenominationsof10,50and100
Reichsmarks.Thiscouldbeacompletecoincidence,butitispossiblethattheGermansran
acrossthese"bogus"notesandnothavingknowledgeofthecurrencyemergencyinAustria,
accusedtheAlliesofforgery.Thereisnoevidencetobacksuchatheory.Thereadermust
decideiftheconnectionexists.
ThesecondGermanpropagandacurrencyparodyaimedattheircitizenswasanenlarged
imitationofthe500milliardenmarkReichsbanknoteof26October1923.Theimitationis
145x84mm.,whereasthegenuineis138x65mm.Thecolorofthegenuinenoteistanatthe
left,changingtogreenattheright.Ontheparody,anattempthasbeenmadetomatchthese
colors,butthecontrasthasbeenlostandthegeneralappearanceofthefaceistangreen.In
ordertofilltheenlargedareaoftheparody,thetextonthefacehasbeenstretchedoutby
doublespacing.
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ThesemockbanknoteswereusedaspartofanantiSemiticexhibitionwhichappearedin
ViennafromDecember12,1943toFebruary29,1944.Itwasoncebelievedthatthesewere
ticketstotheshow,butthetextindicatesthattheywerepreparedasflyers(advertisements)or
souvenirs.Dr.AlanYork,writinginTheShekel,JulyAugust,1984,showsabanknote
customizedbytheadditionoftwoHitlerheadpostagestampsandtheshowcancel,"Wien
Messepalast/Austellung1918/15.1.44."
ViennaantiSemiticExhibition1918Green
Thispropagandanotehasbeenfoundintwovarieties,distinguishedbythebacks,whichare
foundineithertanorgreen.Partofthepropagandamessageonthebackreads:
FunfhundertMilliardenReichsmark=500,000Millions=500,000,000,000RM.
ThisboughtoneloafofbreadduringtheinflationcausedbyuninhibitedJewish
speculation.Thelossofallsavings,unemployment,hungerandmiserywerethe
consequencesofthe"justpeaceoffreedomandindependence"aspromisedbyour
EnglishandAmerican"friends"...
TheGreatExhibition1918showsfromoriginaldocumentsandphotographsthe
originsandconsequencesofthecollapseof1918.Italsodemonstratesmost
convincinglythatinthiswartheresultsoftheyear1918mustnotoccuragain.We
willpursuethiswartoultimatevictory.EveryViennesemustseeExhibition1918."
ThereisafootnoteatthebottomthatstatesthatticketsmaybeobtainedatvariousNSDAP
(NaziParty)Offices.Generaladmissionwas50pfennigsforthepublic,40pfennigsforNazi
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Partymembers.
OperationBernhard
Germancounterfeit5poundnote
Weshouldverybrieflymentionwhathasbeencalledthegreatestcounterfeitingoperationof
alltime,OperationBernhard.Thiswasnotapropagandacampaign,althoughtheverysame
peoplewhopreparedthebanknoteswerealsoinvolvedinaPSYOPcampaigntoparody
BritishpostagestampswithCommunistandJewishsymbols.OperationBernhardwas
instead,asecretGermanplandevisedduringWorldWarIItodestabilizetheBritisheconomy
byfloodingthecountrywithforgedBankofEngland5,10,20,and50notesof1934.
ThiswasnotthefirstwartimeattempttocounterfeitthemoneyofGreatBritain.In1939,
ReinhardHeydrichdecidedtodestroytheeconomyofBritainbyfloodingitwithfake
banknotes.HeauthorizedOperationAndreas,commandedbySSMajorAlfredNaujocks,
whowasgivenabudgetof2millionReichsmarks.HistechnicaldirectorwasDr.Albert
Langer.InApril1940,theneverpatientReinhardHeydrichorderedNaujockstocounterfeit
Norwegiancurrency,andwhentoldthattheeffortwouldatleastfourmonths,hefired
Naujocks.
TheplanwascodenamedOperationAndreasbecausetheBritishflagboretheCrossofSt.
Andrew.TheGermansthoughtthatitlookedlikeanX.Inthesamewaytheywantedto
strikethroughthevalueofthepound,thusmakingitworthless.
Heydrichdidnotwanttousecriminalstomakethebanknotes,andasaresulttheplannever
wentintofullproduction.Byearly1942,LangerclaimedthathisOperationAndrewunithad
produced200,000fivepoundnotesand200,000tenpoundnotes.Theprojectlackedthe
skilledlaborforcenecessarytogointomassproduction,andasaresultofinternalsquabbling
amongNaziSSofficials,OperationAndrewsputteredtoahalt.Itisprobablyjustaswell.
ReichsbankMinisterFunkstatedthattheplanwasuntenableandhecouldseenowayto
deliverthebanknotestoEngland.OperationBernhardalsorefusedtousecriminals
preferringtouseJewishconcentrationcampinmatesuntiltheneedforacounterfeitU.S.
banknoteeventuallybroughtaprofessionalcounterfeiterintothefold.
ThepaperforthecounterfeitswasoriginallypreparedattheHahnemuhlepapermillnear
Dassel.
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SSMajorBernhardKruger
Thesecondandfarmoresuccessfulplanwasdirectedby,andnamedafter,SSMajor
BernhardKruger,whosetupateamof142counterfeitersattheSachsenhausenconcentration
camp.TheGermansscouredtheConcentrationCampsforJewishprintingexperts.A
memorandumtoCampCommanderssaid:
RecruitmentofJewishPrisoners
Prisonersinthecampwhoarequalifiedintheprintingtradesuchaspaper
manufacturingprintersorsuitablecraftsmenaretoreporttomeimmediately.
Theresearchon,andproductionoftheBritishbanknotesbeganin1942.Themajorproblem
wastheengravingofthecomplexprintingplatesandthebreakingoftheBritishcodeusedto
generatevalidserialnumbers.OneoftheexpertsontheteamwasSalamonSmolianoff,a
RussianwhohadbeenforgingBritish50poundnotessince1927andwhohadbeenarrested
andjailedinAmsterdamforcounterfeiting.AnotherwasAdolfBurger,aSlovakianJewwho
hadbeentrainedasaprinter.AccordingtoBurger,whowrotetwobooksabouthis
experiences,theforgersatSachsenhausenalsosuccessfullycopiedtheU.S.$100bill.
InTheDevil'sWorkshophesaysinpart:
InSeptember1944Krugerappearedinhisforgeryworkshopandannounced.
Gentlemenfromtodaywearegoingtoproducedollarstoo.
Therewerespecialroomssetasideforthedollargroup.Newmachinesanddifferent
paperarrivedfromBerlin.SoonafterKrugerbroughtinreal$50and$100billsand
gavethemtoJacobsontheforeman.
Theeightofusworkedinisolationfromtheotherprisoners.Nooneelsewasallowed
toenterthethreeroomsinthebackpartofthatblock.
Thelastprojectintheforgeryworkshopwasproductionof$50and$100bills.Only
twohundred$100billswereprinted.
KrugertoldHimmlerofthesuccessbyphoneandassuredhisbossthateverything
wasreadynowfortheproductionofforgeddollars.
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"Amillionforgeddollarsadayaretobeproducedworkingintwo19hourshifts."It
wasthen12February1945.
ButbeforeproductioncouldstartBerlinwasbeingattackedbytheAllies.
BurgersaysthatanorderfromtheReichSecuritymainofficeorderedtheworktostopthe
machinerytobedismantled
SSMajorBernhardKrugerinPostwarBritishCaptivity
MostreferencestoBernhardKrugertellofhimdrivingawayfromtheconcentrationcamp
withasatchelfullofcounterfeitmoneyatwarsend.Infact,Krugerwasarrestedfirstbythe
Frenchwhoheldhimforabouttwoyearstryingtoconvincehimtoforgeforthem,andthen
bytheBritishwhoquestionedhimindepthabouthiswartimecounterfeiting.WhenI
interviewedKrugerinthe1950shewasaverybittermanwhofelthehadbeenmistreatedby
theallies.Infact,asaformerSSofficer,heprobablygotoffmuchlighterthanheshouldhave.
Burgeralsosaysinregardtothedollarprojectthattheinmatesselectedtocounterfeitthe
U.S.dollarwereSolomonSmolianoff,NorbertLevy(chiefofthephotographicdepartment),
AbrahamJacobson(directorofthecopydepartment),AdolfBurger(typographer)and
LeonardandRogerWeill(retouchers).ThepaintersLeoHaasandPeterEdelwouldassist
themasneeded.
InatopsecretinterrogationafterthewarJacobsonstatedthathestartedforgingU.S.dollars
inMay1944.Heclaimstheyplannedtoprint$50and$100bills,andalthough5000pieces
weremade,theywerenevernumberedorlefttheplant.Itseemsthateveryoneofthe
counterfeiterstoldadifferentstoryafterthewarandsincethereprobablywassome
compartmentalization,itmaybethattheyarejusttellingustherumorsthattheyheardfrom
eachother.
Themainproblemwastofindanadequateprintingmethod.Genuinedollarnoteswere
printedinwhatBurgercallstiefdruckverfahren,whichcanbetranslatedasengraved
(intaglio)printingbuttheinmatesdidnothavethecorrecttypeofprintingpress.Itwas
decidedinsteadtoprintthenotesintheLichtdruckprocess.Thismethodusesaglassplate
thatiscoveredwithlightsensiblegelatinlayeronwhichthefilmnegativeisexposed.No
screeningisnecessarytoreproducehalftonepictures,butonlyupto1.000copiescanbe
printedfromoneplate.Atypicalfeatureofthisseldomusedprintingprocessisthewrinkled
grainthatisseeninsteadofscreendotsunderamagnifyingglass.Burgerclaimsthatthey
attemptedtocounterfeit$50and$100banknoteswiththeLichtdruckprocess.Hesaysthat
onlytwohundredcopiesofthe$100notewereprinted.
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Iprobablyshouldnoteditorializesincethisarticleisentirelyfactual,butIfeelthatImust
makesomecommentshere.Thevastmajorityoftheinformationaboutthisoperationcomes
fromformerJewishconcentrationcampinmatecounterfeiters.Theylivedinrelativelygood
conditionswhileallaroundthemtheirfellowinmatesdiedofstarvation,diseaseandill
treatment.Thereprobablyissurvivorguilt.Inaddition,theinmateswerehelpingtheirsworn
enemieswinthewar.Weunderstandwhytheyactedastheydid,buttheywerebydefinition,
collaborators.Asaresult,manyoftheinmatesnowtalkabouthowtheyfoughttheGermans
andsabotagedtheirefforts,andBurger,inhisautobiography,becomespracticallyaoneman
sabotagemachine.Ithinkweneedtobeverycriticalwhenwereadthesereportsandask
ourselvesiftheyaretotallyreliable.Inthevariousinterviewsyouwillreadthatno$100bills
wereprinted,thebacksofsome$100billswereprinted,Onehundredortwohundred$100
billswereprinted,andperhapseven$20and$50billswereworkedon.Itisdifficulttoknow
whatreallyhappened.
TheGermanlanguagemovieDieFalshers(TheCounterfeiters)basedonBurgersbook
depictedtheinmateshandingMajorKrugerforgedAmericanbanknotes.
BythetimeSachsenhausenwasevacuatedinApril1945,accordingtoChiefInspector(later
ChiefSuperintendent)WilliamRudkinoftheLondonMetropolitanPolice,theprinting
pressestherehadproduced3,945,8675poundnotes,2,398,98110poundnotes,1,337,335
20poundnotesand1,282,90250poundnotesforatotalon134,610,945pounds.The
GermansusedthemalloverEuropeforespionageandcovertoperations,purchasedweapons
withthemfrompartisanbands,andevenpaidtheirspy"Cicero"intheBritishembassyin
Turkeywiththecounterfeits.Thenotesareconsideredthemostperfectcounterfeitsever
produced,beingextremelydifficulttodistinguishfromtherealthing.Thebestgradewasused
byGermanspiesinenemycountriesandforpurchasesinfriendlyorneutralcountries.The
secondbestgradewasforcollaboratorsandinformers.Thethirdgradewouldhavebeen
droppedovertheBritishcountrysidetodestroyitseconomy.Thisneverhappenedbecauseit
wasimpossibletoproduceenoughnotestodestroyaneconomy,andworse,itwouldtipoffthe
Britishthattheirnoteswerebeingcounterfeited.Thelastgradewasdestroyed.
DidtheGermansreallycounterfeitU.S.currency?SachsenhausenConcentrationCamp
inmateswereinterviewedattheendofthewarattheSeventhArmyInterrogationCenter.
TwoJewishprisoners,JacobGoldglassandHenrikFajermannstatedon20May1945thatthe
counterfeitingteamthathadproducedmillionsoffakeBritishpoundshadplannedto
counterfeitAmericanbanknoteslateinthewar.Thesecretreportstated:
ThecamphadthirteenmachinesfortheproductionofBritishpoundnotesandtwo
machinesfortheproductionofAmericandollarbills.Thelattercouldnotbe
producedbecauseofthelackofsuitablepaper.
HansWalter,oneoftheoriginalBernhardforgersspokeofhisexperiencesin2009.Therewas
notmuchnewinhiscomments,butitisnicetohavefactsverifiedbyoneoftheforgers.He
saidthatbarracks19wassealedofffromtheremainderofthecampandtherewasnocontact
withtheotherprisoners.TheCampCommandantwasnotevenawareoftheworkbeingdone
there.
Hisjobwastoinspecttheforgednotesandtoputthemintooneoffivecategories(notfouras
mentionedelsewhereinthisarticle).Hasbelievedthatthebestnotes,categoryone,werefor
shipmenttoEngland(throughChicagoandSwitzerland).Thenextgradewastobesenttothe
Englishcolonies.Thethirdgradewastobeusedinsabotageoperationsatthefrontandin
AfricaandEgypt.GradefournotesweretobedroppedoverEnglandtodisrupttheeconomy
andthepoorestoftheforgerieswerediscarded.
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HanssaidthatBernhardKrugerwouldcometovisitonceortwiceaweek.Thehardest
portionoftheBritishnotetocopywas"Britannia"becauseofthelargeamountofdetailsin
thefigure.Therewerenosecretmarksappliedtothenotesandnoneoftheprisonersevergot
anyoftheforgeriesoutofthecamp.
AftersuccessfullyforgingtheEnglishnotes,Hanssaidthathisfellowprisonerssetaboutto
makeU.S.onehundreddollarbills.Thegreencoloroftheinkcreatedaproblembutthatwas
overcome.Tocompletetheprocesswouldhaveresultedinthegaschambersotheprisoners
decidedtoslowtheproject.Hanssaidthatinmixingtheinkheaddedalittlemachineoilto
themixturesothatwhenthegreeninkdriedsomeofitwouldcomeoffwhenrubbedbya
finger.KrugertooknotestoaGermanprintertotrytosolvetheproblembuttheycouldnot.
AdeclassifiedreportentitledCounterfeitingActivitiesofSection6F4inthe
Reichssicherheitshauptamt(GermanMainSecurityOffice)agrees:
ItwasalsoplannedtoproduceAmericandollars.Section6F4alreadypossessedthe
necessaryengravingplatesbuthadnotbeenabletoproduceasatisfactorypaper.The
paperonhandwasmuchtoostiffandhadotherfailings.
Weknowthatpartoftheblock18dormitorywasclearedforthedollarworkshopinMay
1944.ThereisatheorythatKrugerwaswillingtohavetheprojectlingeronsinceasuccessful
endingortotalfailuremeanthisinmateswouldbeexecutedandhemightfindhimselfonthe
EasternFrontfacingtheRussians.Asaresult,thedollarprojectstretchedonandon.
AnthonyPiriesaysinOperationBernhard,WilliamMorrowandCompany,NYC,1961:
EarlyinJanuary1945,KrugerreceivedaphonecallfromSachsenhausen.Soon
afterwards,inBlock19,hewasminutelyexaminingthefirstrunofthenewdollar
notesahundredsamplesofthehundreddollarbill.
BurkeaddsinNaziCounterfeitingofBritishCurrencyDuringWorldWarII,TheBookShop,
SanBernardino,CO,1987:
Onthe6thofJanuary1945,aselectionofnoteswasshowntoHimmlerinwhich,it
issaid,hecouldnotseparatethegenuinefromthecopies.Theengravingwasmuch
harderthanforthesimpleBankofEnglandnotes,butthenumberingsystemproved
tobequiteeasytobreakSomeoftheprisonersinvolvedthoughtthatabout200of
the$100noteswereprinted.McNally[aU.S.Armymajorwhohadservedinthe
AmericanSecretServiceandwasappointedtoGermanyafterthewartoprotectthe
occupyingforcesfromcounterfeitcurrency],inhisinvestigation,estimatedabout
6,000
LawrenceMalkinsaysinKrugersMen,Little,BrownandCompany,NYC,2006:
WithintwodaystheyhadprintedwhatSmolianoff[theonetruecriminal
counterfeiterinthegroupknownbyadozenaliases]judgedaprettyfaircopyof
thebackofahundreddollarbill.AcrossatabletheDollarGroupspreadfifteen
genuinegreenbackswiththeirfakedemonstrationbill.Withoutamagnifyingglass,it
washardevenfortheforgersthemselvestodistinguishthecounterfeit.
Thegroupthenstartedworkonthefrontofthe$100noteandafteraweektheyhada
suitable$100counterfeitnote.Theinmateswereorderedtoproduceonemilliondollars
ofU.S.currencyaday.
ArlieSlabaughsaysinPrisonerofWarMoniesandMedals,HewittBrothers,Chicago,Il,1965:
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Latein1943itwasdecidedtocounterfeitU.S.currencyBylatefall1944thereverse
ofthe$100billwasfinished,approvedandretouchingbeganontheface.Twenty
$100billswereproducedwhichpassedinspectionexceptfortheU.S.dateandserial
numberwhichhadnotyetbeensolved.Thepaperhadfinallybeenimitatedbutdue
tothebombingsthefactorycouldnotproducethequantityneeded.TheU.S.$100
billneverwentintoproduction.Theplatesweredestroyed.
TheCounterfeitspecialistMurrayTeighBloom,authorofsevenbooksoncurrency,wrotein
anInternationalJournalofIntelligenceandCounterintelligencearticleentitledUncleSam:
BashfulCounterfeiterthattheGermansattemptedtocounterfeitaU.S.$20note.Hesays
thattheoperationproceededsoslowlythatitwasnevercompleted.Ihaveseennoother
evidenceofthisdenominationbeingcounterfeited.
So,althoughthereisnoevidenceoftheGermancounterfeitseverbeingputintocirculation,
therearenumerouswrittenreferencestothembeingprinted.
TheMoneyGame
TheartistMortKunstlerpaintedasceneofthecounterfeitcurrencyworkshopof
SachsenhausenconcentrationCampentitledTheMoneyGame.Thesceneisexplainedin
advertisementsas:
InthedarkrecessesofBarracks19attheSachsenhausenconcentrationcamp,a
GermanSSofficerexaminesasampleofcounterfeitU.S.currencybeing
manufacturedfordistributioninanefforttounderminetheeconomyoftheUnited
States.UnbeknowntoHitlerandhiscohorts,theschemewouldneverreachfruition
astheconspiracywouldbethwartedbyanalliedvictoryinEurope.
Whatisinterestingaboutthepaintingfromtheartistknownforhishistoricalaccuracyisthat
itdepictsacounterfeit$50banknote,onethatwasnevercounterfeitedbytheJewishinmates
inthecamp.Onlythe$100notewascounterfeited,asreportedintheclassifiedSecret
December1945CzechoslovakianMinistryoftheInteriorReportonForgeryinSachsenhausen
ConcentrationCamp.TranslatedtoEnglishitsaysinpart:
Krugerbroughtinaboutfifty100dollarbanknotesForwholemonthsthework
didnotproducesatisfactoryresultsFaultscouldbeseenintheapplicationofcolor.
Atothertimestheyfiledtoachievetherighttoneofgreenforthereversesideofthe
100dollarnotes.220experimentsweremadealtogetheruntilattheendofDecember
1944theywereabletobeginontheproductionofthebanknotesButalthoughthe
prisonershadanultimatumfromHimmlertomanufacturedollars,theactual
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productionwasnevercarriedoutAltogetherabout200onehundreddollarbank
noteswereprinted.Thesewereleftinthecamp.
JohnK.CooleysaysinCurrencyWars,SkyhorsePublishing,NYC,2008:
Krugerturnedoversomegenuine$50and$100notestocopyTheSDleadership
hadoriginallydemandedthattheteamproduce200perfect$100specimensOnthe
twohundredandfiftiethattemptTheresultwastwentyfourperfect$100
counterfeits.Duringthesamenight,theteamprintedtherequired200bills,face
value$20,000.
Ontheotherhand,WilhelmHottlsaysinHitlersPaperWeapon,RupertHartDavis,London,
1955:
Fiftyandhundreddollarnotesandproducedthefirstexamplesbytheendof
1944whenthefirstdollarsweredeliveredinearly1945,theywereturneddown
becauseofdefectivepaper
MoritzNachtsterntalksabouthisexperiencesasaforgerinSachsenhausenandsaysthat
therewere$50billsproducedinCounterfeiterhowaNorwegianJewsurvivedthe
holocaust,OspreyPublishing,Oxford,U.K.,2008.Thecounterfeiterstalkabouttheirworkat
differenttimes:
Wewillsoonbeginthemanufactureof50dollarbillsenmasse.IswearoldUncle
Samisgoingtobesobloatedwithdollarbillsthathewillburst
Itwontbelongandyoullseea50dollarbillthatbeateverythingintheindustry.It
willbemylifesmasterpiece
Areyoucompletelyfinishedwithit?Doesitlookgood?Youshouldhaveseen
Kruger.Heembracedmeandcarriedonlikeamaniac.Icantellyouthismenif
anyonehasproducedabetter50dollarbillthanmine,hehasnotbeendiscovered.
So,atleastthreeauthorsbelievedthattheGermansattemptedtocounterfeitaU.S.fifty
dollarbill.PerhapsMortKunstlergottheideafromHottl.
MortKunstlerandAuthor
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In2006theauthorwasaskedtodisplayandexplainAmericanandforeignweaponsand
uniformsaspartofanexhibitionofMortKuntsler'smilitarypaintings.
OperationBernhardseemstobethestorythatlivesonforever.On18August2011asetofthe
fourcounterfeitnoteswasauctionedinGreatBritain.Thefourbanknoteswererecovered
fromLakeToplitzinAustriaandestimatedat2,000pounds.Thatseemsrathersteepbecause
generallyasetcanbeboughtforlessthanhalfthatamount.Iassumetheauctioneerthought
thattheLakeToplitzprovenancemadethemmorevaluable.
ManyexpertshavestatedthattheBritishdidnotknowthattheirbanknoteswere
counterfeitedbytheGermansuntilafterthewar.Infact,theBritishdidknowbecausethey
wereregularlyarrestingNazispiesandtheGermanshadpaidsomeofthemwithBernhard
counterfeits.InFebruary2012theBritishNationalArchivesreleaseddocumentsonthe
discoveryofcounterfeitbanknotesfoundinthepossessionofNazispies.Thedocumentssayin
part:
AccordingtoinformationgivenbyAlfredNaujocks,whogavehimselfupin
November1944,theGermansstartedtoforgethesenotesin1940withtheobjectof
scatteringthemoverthecountryfromtheairatthetimetheywereinvadingthe
BritishIsles,inordertocausealossofconfidenceandgeneralconfusion.
[TheseareclearlytheearlyattemptsandnotthelaterBernhardcounterfeits].
InSeptember1943,theGermanspyTricyclearrivedwith500fivepoundnotes,152
ofwhichwerecounterfeits.InMarch1944,thespyTreasurewasfoundwith30ten
poundnotes,23ofwhichwerecounterfeits.
TheBernhard10PoundForgery
WhenIcollectedtheGermancounterfeitsIlikedtheonesthathadbeenidentified
andstampedbybanks.TheGermanslikedtothinkthattheywerenevercaught
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butIhadmanysuchnoteswithdifferenthandstampsshowingthatthenoteshad
beenrecognizedasfakesbyvariousEuropeanbanks.ThePoleshavestampedthis
noteFALSZYWY(False).Ialsohavenotesstampedbythe
BritishFALSIFICATION.
[ItappearsthatinsomecasesonesectionofGermanintelligencewassellingcounterfeitsin
Lisbontoraisefundsandanothersectionwasbuyingthecounterfeitsthattheybelievedwere
genuineandpayingspieswiththatcurrency.WecannotbesureiftheGermansintendedto
givethespiesthefakemoneyornot.WealsonoticethattheBritishwatchedeverybanknote
inforeignershandsandtracedthembacktothepointoforigintryingtodecideifthe
banknotehadsomehowcomeintoGermanhandsandwasbeingusedtopayspies].
ThisconcludesourdiscussionofGermanpropagandaaimedattheUnitedStatesandEurope.
Thereareotherbanknoteleafletsallegedlyproduced,butnonehasbeenseenatpresent.For
instance,MurrayTeighBloomstatesinTheBrotherhoodofMoney,BNRPress,PortClinton,
Ohio,1983,that"theGermansplannedtotakeFrenchcurrencyplateswiththemwhenthey
retreated."AllegedlythisplotwasfoiledwhentheFrenchgavetheGermansdeformedand
faultyplates.Bloomsays:"TheGermansusedthedeformedplatestomakepropagandanotes
aseemingFrenchnoteononesideandontheotheramessageurgingFrenchsoldiersand
'maquis(Partisans)'tosurrender."Theseallegedsurrenderpassesareunknownanditis
probablethattheleafletsinquestionarethosethatpicturedthe5francAMGnotewe
mentionabove.
BurgerclaimsthathisCounterfeitingteamforgedSovietcurrencyandNKVDpapers:
WemadealmosteverythingSovietrubles,andinasmallerquantity,Soviet
documents.Irememberoncewehadtofalsify200identitycardsoftheSoviet
PeoplesCommissariatSecurityemployees.
JacobsonaddsthattheGermansintendedtocounterfeitFrench25francnotesbuttheynever
producedany.HewasorderedtocounterfeitcurrencyoftheNetherlandsbutconvincedhis
bossesthatitwastoodifficult.
ChineseProJapanesePropaganda
TheJapaneseArmyregularlyproducedpropagandaleafletsinanattempttoswaythe
patriotismoftheChineseNationalArmyandtheguerrillas.TheproJapaneseChinese
collaborationistgovernmenttookpartinaseriesofpropagandaoperationsagainstthe
legitimateChinesegovernmentandtheguerrillasthathelpedit.
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GenuineCentralBankofChina1yuannoteof1936(front)
ParodyofCentralBankofChina1yuannoteof1936(back)
ThefirstparodyofaChinesebanknotewasalithographedfullcolorreplicaoftheCentral
BankofChina1yuannoteof1936withasafeconductpassinbrownontheback.Theserial
number558829N/Eappearsonbothfrontandback.Thepassisdated1936inArabic
numeralsonthebackandthedateinChineseonthefrontisMK25(1936).Thiswasthe
originalsafeconductpass.Thisnoteisalsoknownwithaslightlymodifiedtextanddifferent
serialnumber.
ThesafeconductmessageappearsasnineverticallinesofChinesetextinacentralboxed
area,flankedontheleftbyacircularareacontainingoneverticallineofsixChinese
charactersandontherightbyacircularscallopedareacontainingoneverticallineofsix
Chinesecharacters.Abovethecentralboxedareaisahorizontalarcedbannerlineoffive
Chinesecharactersbelowthecentralareaisahorizontalstraightlineofelevencharacters.
Thetextis:
Safeconductpassformilitarytroops
WelcometotheforcesofpeaceGuaranteeofsafepassage
PriortotheOfficialAnnouncementoftheMilitaryCommittee,thisSafeConductPasshasbeen
madeforthosewhointendtojointhepeacereconstructionmovementoftheNewCentral
Government.TherehasbeenanunderstandingwiththefrontlinetroopsoftheJapaneseArmy.
PleaseshowthisPasstothesentriesoftheJapaneseArmytoobtainprotectionandthemeansto
jointheNewCentralGovernment.
MilitaryCommittee,NationalGovernment,Nanking
ThenoteisdescribedinWorldWarIIRemembered,C.FrederickSchwanandJosephE.
Boling,BNRPress,1995.
TheNankingNationalistGovernmentwithWangChingweiasPresidentwasa
collaborationistcarboncopyoftheNationalistGovernmentofChiangKaishek.The
JapanesepuppetgovernmentinNankingcopiedthenamesofbureausandagenciesinan
attempttoappearlegitimate.However,thegenuineChinesegovernmentdidnothavea
MilitaryCommittee.Theterm"peacefulreconstructionmovement"wasadirectcounter
propagandaslogantothenationalist"reconstructionthroughthewarofresistance
movement."
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ThesecondvarietyofthisnotewasdescribedinOrientalAffairs,March1941.Thetextis
mostlythesamewithsomevariationperhapscausedbytranslationbutthepropagandatext
atthesidesofthenoteisdescribedas:
WelcometotakepartinpeaceTosafeguardyourlife.
ThearticlestatesthatthenotewasproducedbyTheHeadquartersofthePacifyingForcesin
Kiangsu,ChekiangandAnhweiProvince.Inaddition:
Theforgednotesarestatedtohavebeenfreelydistributedamongvillagersinthe
countryside
GenuineCentralBankofChina5Fen
5Fenparody
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TheJapanesecollaborationiststhenproceededtotakethepropagandamessageonthebackof
theoriginalbanknoteandreproduceitonthecurrencyofotherbanks.Thefirstcopyisa
greenreplicaofCentralBankofChina5fen(5cents)noteof1939withasafeconductpassin
greenontheback,reducedinsizetofitthesmallersizeofthisnote.Curiously,theycopiedthe
serialnumberalongwiththetextsothisnoteisalso558829N/Eonthebackwithnoserial
numberonthefront.Thepassisdated1936inArabicnumeralsonthebackthedatein
ChineseonthefrontisMK28(1939).
TheWardD.SmithandBrianMatraversbookChineseBanknotes,Shirjieh
Publishers,MenloPark,CA,1970,istheBibleofChinesenumismatics.Theysayinregard
tothe5fennote:
[The5cents]alsoexistswithaslightlylargerbutotherwiseidenticalobverse,but
withareversedated1936.ItwasissuedbytheNankingGovernmentMilitaryAffairs
CommitteeasaformofsafeconductpasstoencouragedefectionsfromtheChinese
nationalistmilitary.
GenuineFarmersBankofChina1chiao(10cents)
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ASafeConductPassParodyofFarmer'sBankofChina1chiao(10cents)
TheChinesealsoparodiedtheFarmer'sBankofChina1chiao(10cents)noteof1937with
safeconductpassinblueontheback.Theserialnumberappearsonbothfrontandback.The
passisdated1936inArabicnumeralsonthebackthedateinChineseonthefrontisMK26
(1937).Thetextisidenticaltotheprecedingtwobanknotes.
ASecondParodyofFarmer'sBankofChina1chiao(10cents)
TherearetwoversionsoftheFarmer'sBankofChina1chiao(10cents)noteof1937withsafe
conductpassinblue.Onceagaintheserialnumberappearsonbothfrontandback.Thispass
isamodifiedreprintoftheprecedingitem.Thepassisdated1942inArabicnumeralsonthe
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backthedateinChineseonthefrontisMK26(1937).Besidesthedifferenceindate,thereisa
slightdifferenceinthetextinthecentralbox:thelast(leftmost)linehasonlyfiveChinese
charactersratherthansix,andthetworeferencestothe"NewCentralGovernment"have
beenchangedto"NankingGovernment."
Asstatedearlier,thereisasecondproJapanesesafeconductpassontheBankofChina1
yuannoteof1936thatwedepictabove.Thisnoteisdated1936inArabicnumeralsonthe
backandthedateinChineseonthefrontisMK25(1936).Thissecondvarietyhastheserial
number267355N/Honthefrontandback.Thefrontisidenticaltothegenuinebanknote,
Thisversionhastheserialnumber267355N/Honthefrontandback.Thefrontisidenticalto
thegenuinebanknote,andonceagainthesafeconductmessageisontheback.Thispasshas
thesamestructureasthoseintheprecedinglisting,andbearssimilartextswithsomeminor
changesandadditions.Thecentralboxedareainthispassnowcontainstenverticallinesand
translatesto:
Safeconductpassformilitarytroops
WelcometotheforcesofpeaceGuaranteeofsafepassage
PriortotheOfficialAnnouncementoftheMilitaryCommittee,thisSafeConductPasshasbeen
madeforthosewhointendtojointhepeacemovementoftheNewCentralGovernment.There
hasbeenanunderstandingwiththefrontlinetroopsoftheJapaneseArmyandthePacification
Army.PleaseshowthisPasstothesentriesoftheJapaneseArmyortheChineseArmytoobtain
protectionandthemeanstojointheNewCentralGovernment.
PacificationArmyofKiangsu,Chekiang,andAnhweiProvinces
ThissecondvarietyisillustratedanddiscussedinOrientalAffairs15,3(March1941).
InBattleHymnofChina,Knopf,NY,1943,AuthorAgnesSmedleymentionsabanknotesafe
conductpassdroppedoverthenorthbankofthelowerYangtzeRiver,anareaoccupiedbythe
CommunistNewFourthArmy:
Anotherhandbilllookedlikeabanknoteexceptthatthereversesideexplainedthe
procedurefordesertion.Iturgedguerrillastobringtheirrifles.Haltatleast200feet
awayfromaJapanesegarrisonandwaveawhiteflag.Nextallshouldlaytheirrifles
ontheearth,then,witharmsuplifted,approachtheJapanesesentryonebyonetobe
searchedforconcealedweapons.Afterthatalifeofeasewouldbetheirs!
JapaneseOverprintonMalayaCurrency
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TheJapanesedefeatedandoccupiedBritishMalayain1942andprintedoccupationcurrency
fortheiruse.Forsomeunknownreasontheyplacedapropagandamessageonthebackofthis
1944$100dollarbanknote.
Attherightthereisaredcirclehandstampthatmeans:verified.
Thetextisreadfromtoptobottom,righttoleft,writteninapoeticstylewhereitrhymes,
withfivecharactersperline.
Itiseasytocatchatigerinthejungle[canalsobehighmountain]
Itishardtofindsomeonetolendyoumoney.
Ifyouhavenosavings
Youwillhaveabigproblem.
GreaterJapan[canalsobeEmpireofJapan]
MalayanFinanceDepartment
Asquareredchopatleftis:Showa___yearThehandstampeddateisdifficulttoread,but
itcertainlywasappliedduringtheoccupationofMalayabyJapan.Therewasno
GreaterJapanaftertheirsurrenderin1945.
Japanesepornographicbanknoteparodies
TheJapanesealsousedpornographicphotographsontheirbanknoteparodiestocatchthe
attentionoftheChinesesoldiersandpatriots.Twoarereportedtohavebeendisseminatedin
ChekiangProvince.TheywerefirstreportedinTheChinaWeeklyReview,April13,1946
whichidentifiedthemas"ArmyReturncertificates."Thephotographsandthetextare
inconsistent.ThefirstpropagandabanknoteappearstobeimitationsoftheFarmersBankof
China1chiao(10cents)noteof1937depictinganudegirlfromthewaistup.Thesecondnote
maybetheCentralBankofChina1yuannoteof1936or5fen(5cents)noteof1939showing
anudegirlsittingonafloor.
Thetextisidenticalonbothnotes:
Iamconstantlylookingforwardtoyourreturn.Youarestillfightingthewarof
resistance.Ifyoucontinuetofight,youwilldieinthefield!Comebackandlistento
myheart.
BanShigeo,atechnicianattheJapaneseArmy's9thTechnicalResearchInstitutewroteaslim
historyoftheJapaneseWWIINoboritoResearchInstituteentitled:RikugunNoborito
Kenkyujonoshinjitsu(TheTruthAbouttheArmyNoboritoResearchInstitute),in2001.It
wasreviewedbyStephenC.Mercado.
TheinstitutewascommandedbyLt.Gen.Shinoda,andwasinvolvedinprojectstodevelop
poisons,biologicalagents,andtheballoonbombssenttodriftoverthewesternUnitedStates
tosetforestfiresneartheendoftheSecondWorldWar.
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OftheJapaneseArmy'stennumberedinstitutes,onlythe9thArmyTechnicalResearch
InstitutecameunderthecovertoperationssectionoftheArmyGeneralStaff'sSecondBureau
(Intelligence).Noborito'smaincustomerswerethecovertoperativestrainedattheArmy's
NakanoSchoolandthecounterintelligenceofficersoftheKempeitai.Noboritodeveloped
equipmentforthemenofNakano,wheretheinstitutesequipmentwasoftentestedbefore
deployment.
OnewartimeprojectwasthecounterfeitingofthecurrencyusedbyChiangKaishek'sregime
withtheideaoffloodingtheareaheldbyNationalistChina,causingeconomicupheaval,
underminingconfidenceintheNationalistregime,destroyingtheeconomyandendingthe
Chineseresistance.TheNoboritoResearchInstituteprintedthecurrency,membersofthe
NakanoSchooltookthecounterfeitnotestoChina,andthenImperialJapaneseArmy
intelligenceunitsworkedwithShanghai'snotoriouscrimegangstodistributethecurrency.
OneTypeof5YuanChineseBanknoteCounterfeitedbytheJapanese
Moreinformationaboutthiscounterfeitingoperationbecameknownin2015.TheAsahi
ShimbunstatedthattheImperialJapaneseArmyusedaprivatecompanytoproduce
counterfeitbanknotesofChina.279sheets,eachabout30centimeterssquare,werefoundat
theTomoegawaCompanyspapermillinShizuoka.ThearmysNoboritoinstitutein
KawasakihadplacedanorderforthesheetswiththeTokyobasedcompany.Thesheets
showedwatermarksofaprofileofSunYatsen,theChineserevolutionaryandfounding
fatheroftheRepublicofChina.Theyalsocontainsilkfibers.Thesefeaturesareidenticalto
thoseofa5yuanbanknotethatwaswidelycirculatedintheRepublicofChinaatthattime.
OthersheetsfoundatthemillhadwatermarksoftheTempleofHeaven,ahistoricstructure
inBeijing,thatappearedonadifferentkindof5yuanbillbackthen.
AformerImperialJapaneseArmyofficerwhowasinchargeofthecounterfeitingproject
claimedthatJapanhadcreatedfakebillsworth4billionyuanstartingin1939.Itisbelieved
thattheprivatecompanywasusedbecausetheArmyinstitutewasunabletomakethe
banknotesinthebulkrequired.ThecivilianmadesheetswereproducedbetweenAugust1940
andJuly1941.Theworkersensuredthebillslookedauthenticbycheckingthesophistication
ofthewatermarksandtheamountofsilkfibersused.
Originally,authenticbanknotesusedintheRepublicofChinawereprintedinHongKong
usingtechnologyfromtheUnitedStatesandBritain.Themachinesandoriginalplatesto
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printthebillsinHongKongwereconfiscatedandtakentotheinstituteafterJapanoccupied
HongKongin1941.
AsecondversionofwhatisapparentlythesamestorysaysthattheJapaneseforgedthe
currencyofNationalistChinaduring1941to1945usinginksandplates(andpresumably
paper)seizedfromChinesebanksinKowloon.Theinspirationforthisploycamefrom
LieutenantColonelIwakuroHideo,8thSection,ArmyGHQ,whowasagraduateofthe
NakanoSchoolforespionageaccordingtoLouisAllen,"NakanoSchoolforspies,"WorldWar
Investigator,Vol.1,No.12,1989.
Attheendofthewar,theUnitedStatessecretlyemployedsomeofthecounterfeitersand
installedthemattheYokosukanavalbase.Theycontinuedtoforgecurrencyanddocuments
tosupportAmericanagentoperationsinCommunistChina,NorthKorea,andtheSovietFar
East.ThisstoryfirstcametolightwhenArigaTsutao,aformermemberofthecurrentJapan
DefenseAgencyandanotedauthorityontheImperialJapaneseMilitarysintelligence
community,madetheallegation.
Therewerereportsin1943oftheJapanesefloodingChinawithlargesumsofcounterfeit
BankofChinacurrencynotes.ReportsfromKweilinindicatethat10billiondollarsinforged
currencywereintroducedintoChina.ItisinterestingtonotethatAmericanagentsthought
thereportwasexaggeratedandrecommendedthatafigureof100milliondollarsbespecified
instead.InalaterlettertotheSecretaryoftheTreasury,thesumisfurtherreducedto10
milliondollars.ThesameletterreportsthattheJapanesehavecounterfeitedUSdollars,Hong
Kongdollars,andBritishsterling.OtherexpertssuchasC.M.Nielsentoldmethatthe
Japanesegovernmentdidnotalwayssponsorthecounterfeiting,buttheywouldoftenstand
byandallowprivatecounterfeiterstowreakhavocontheChineseeconomy.
ItislikelythatotherGermanandJapanesepropagandabanknoteswillsurfaceinthecoming
years.Theseareallthatareknownatthemoment.Readerswithcommentsoradditional
informationareencouragedtowritetotheauthoratsgmbert@hotmail.com.
End:15June2004
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German Propaganda Currency of WW II 2

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German Propaganda Currency of WW II 2

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1/20/2017

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