Notgelds: POW Notes (con’t)

.. Continuing: Notgelds: POW Notes:

1. Münster POW Camp Notes:

• Issuing Authority: Gefangenen-Lager I, Münster i.W. (Westphalia)

• Denominations: 1 Mark, 2 Mark, 5 Mark (and sometimes lower pfennig denominations)

• Features:
o Clearly marked “Kein öffentliches Zahlungsmittel” (not legal tender outside the camp).
o Some stamped with “Bank Abteilung” to mark them for accounting or cancellation.
• Purpose: Circulated only within the POW camp to regulate trade among prisoners and with the canteen.

2. Inspection Notes of the 3rd Army Corps

• Denominations: Pfennig (1, 5, 10, 50), Mark (1, 2, 5, 10)

• Issuing Authority: “Inspektion der Kriegsgefangenenlager im Bereich des III. Armeekorps”

o They were issued to maintain a closed-loop economy, not for external circulation.
________________________________________
3. Cassel (Kassel) Camp Notes
• Issuing Authority: Gefangenen-Lager Cassel
• Denominations: Pfennig to Zehn Mark (10 Mark)
• Features:
. “UNGÜLTIG” stamps are visible on some, marking them as void or demonetized.
. These too were only valid within the camp.

Inspection der Kriegsgefangenenlager im Bereich des XVIII. Armeekorps
✅ Issuing Authority:

Inspektion der Kriegsgefangenenlager im Bereich des XVIII. Armeekorps

4. This translates to the “Inspection of the Prisoner of War Camps in the Area of the XVIII Army Corps.”

These notes were issued by the German military authority in charge of overseeing POW camps under the XVIII Army Corps, values from 1 pfenning to 10 marks.

Amazing, right?