TWINÂ FIELD STAMPS ON REVERSE
The war which has raged across Europe for almost 6 years is quickly coming to an end. Germany is slowly being squeezed between the pincers of the advancing Soviet Red Army, the U.S. First Army and the endless waves of aerial bombardment by allied bombers. History was being made and written daily. It was a massive period of change and upheaval.
Mobile banking arms of the Third Reich issued currency in the field to its troops via the Reichskreditkassen (Reich Credit Offices) to ensure an ongoing currency supply for its people in newly occupied areas.
This banknote was one such from this period and bears two field stamps on the reverse for the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend or “Hitler Youth” as well as 25th SS Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS Hunyadi.
A fantastic example here and beautifully preserved in approximately Extra Fine condition. Very light creasing and light discoloration on right hand border.
Design
Stamps:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend or “Hitler Youth”
25th Waffen Grenadier Division
Value:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 50 Mark – Serial number B9878115
Date:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1945
Catalogue:Â Â Â Â Ro.193
Size:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 170 x 85 mm
Oberse:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Portrait of a Fishermans wife with headscarf
Reverse:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Marienburg in West Prussia ( a former province of Poland )
History
1945 Timeline in Germany
January – The Soviet Red Army begin their East Prussian Offensive on January 13th.
February – Massive bombing raids across Germany by allied aircraft estimated at 9,000 bombers.
March – With the failure to destroy Ludendorff Bridge on the Rhine River it is captured by the U.S. First Army and troops begin crossing the Rhine taking over Cologne on the way through. It was known historically as the Battle of Remagen a key turning point in the invasion of Germany.
April –Â Adolf Hitler hidden away in his bunker celebrates his 56th birthday amidst reports of depression and anxiety attacks.
May –Â The German General Helmuth Weidling commander of the Berlin Defence Area surrenders the city to General Vasily Chuikov of the Soviet Red Army. Soviet troops raise the flag at the German parliament The Reichstag.
June –Â The Allies being France, Britain, Russia and America divide German into 4 areas of control.
July – The Potsdam Conference begins with the Allied leaders in attendance. As a group they agree to insist upon the unconditional surrender of Japan without delay.
August – At the closure of the Potsdam Conference one key point mandated in the Potsdam Agreement which was the expulsion of Germans from not only the eastern quarter of Germany but everywhere else in eastern Europe from Budapest to Austria to Lithuania.
September – World War II, the most devastating war in human history, is over with the formal surrender of Japan.
October – U.S. troops are finally allowed once again to German civilians. Under the non fraternization directive talking to Germans with the exception of children was forbidden and punishable by court martial.
November – American troops are now permitted to marry Austrian women as the prohibition is lifted.
December – U.S. laws prohibiting food shipments to Germany are dropped and assistance starts to flow to the German citizens.
