
These are Notgeld (emergency money) issued for the Gefangenen-Lager Dyrotz, a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp in Germany. Notgeld was commonly issued during times of economic crisis, especially during and after World War I, when there were shortages of official currency.
Key Features of These Notgelds:
Issued by Gefangenen-Lager Dyrotz
Dyrotz was a POW camp, likely in Germany, where these notes were used internally for transactions among prisoners.
They were not public legal tender (as indicated on the notes: Kein öffentliches Zahlungsmittel).
Denominations and Design
The notes in the image include different values: 5 Pfennig, 50 Pfennig, 2 Mark, 3 Mark, and 5 Mark.
Each note has decorative borders and the term Gutschein, which means “voucher” or “coupon”.
Some have official stamps or markings, which could indicate validation for circulation within the camp.
Security and Warning Text
These notes carry a warning: Wer diesen Schein nachmacht oder verfälscht oder Fälschungen versuht, wird strafrechtlich verfolgt.
Meaning: “Whoever forges or falsifies this note or attempts counterfeiting will be prosecuted.”
This suggests they were carefully controlled within the camp system.
Historical Context:
During WWI and WWII, many POW camps issued their own Notgeld to control economic activities within the camp, preventing prisoners from using official currency.
These types of notes were often exchanged for goods in camp canteens but had no value outside the camp.
Collectibility & Value:
These POW camp Notgelds are rare and highly collectible, especially if they are in good condition and have clear stamps or signatures.
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