Reichskredit-kassenscheine
From the collection of The Dutch Central Bank (DNB) / The Money Museum
Varied dimensions, 1940
With the occupation of the Netherlands in 1940, a new temporary currency was placed into circulation: the Reichskreditkassenschein. German soldiers could purchase what they needed from Dutch shops using this money.
Shop owners then traded in these notes at their bank for Dutch guilders. But the Dutch Central Bank ended up financing these occupation notes. When this currency was turned over to the Reichskreditkasse (Reich Credit Treasury) in Berlin, no money was returned in exchange. This ‘legal tender’ was basically play money: the Dutch Central Bank was left with piles of worthless notes and the Dutch Treasury was forced to absorb the costs. As a result, the German occupying forces ended up getting everything free-of-charge.