Got this in a grouping of other paper items at a local estate auction. I was surprised to see it when I started to go through everything when I got home. It was the only SS piece in all of the paper items. What exactly is this? And real? It is pretty beat up and looks like it was taped in a scrapbook at one time. Thanks, Mike
-
-
Hello,
This is camp money used at Buchenwald concentration camp.
The following quote is from the Buchenwald guidebook, written by Sabine and Harry Stein:
"Many prisoners had the opportunity to buy some items of additional everyday need since the first years of the camps's existence. The SS set up the sale of goods acquired cheaply or produced in the camp in order to skim off the money paid by relatives to support prisoners under the conditions of complete shortage. Every barrack put one prisoner in charge of buying at the canteen. (He was called the 'block buyer' or 'canteneer'). A corresponding canteen building opened in the camp in 1942. In addition to cash money, prisoners were also entitled to pay for goods with shopping vouchers of fixed value which were issued from autumn 1943 on. (The tickets were called "camp money" or "bonus money")."
With kind regards,
Koen.
-
Thank you for the great info.Comment
-
Here is my example. The poor quality of paper used explains the fragility of most examples we see today.
Regards,
CarlComment
-
These notes were used not only to buy food, but also for services in the camp brothel. Blockfuhrers would often receive these as reward for 'good service'. Additional images below...Comment
Comment