Nazi Germany, 5 mark note, acquired by a US soldier 2013.442.24 front
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Five mark German bank note acquired by Captain James (Jim) Kirkebo who served with the US Army from 1940-45, and in combat with the Thunderbolt Division in Europe from December 1944-May 1945. Kirkebo, age 19, enlisted in the US Army in September 1940. In August 1942, 2nd Lieutenant Kirkebo became commanding officer of C Company, 21st Armored Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division, Third Army. In December 1944, Kirkebo's unit landed in Normandy, and defended Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. The 11th Armored spearheaded the Allied advance into Germany and pushed through to Austria. Kirkebo received a battlefield promotion to captain on February 1, 1945. On May 5 and 6, soldiers from the 11th Armored liberated Gusen and Mauthausen concentration camps. At Mauthausen, they discovered over 19,000 starving inmates. The unit was tasked with caring for the inmates and improving camp conditions. On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered. Kirkebo was on occupational duty until October when he returned to the US. Kirkebo was awarded a Silver Star and 3 Bronze Stars for his Kirkebo was on occupational duty until early October when he returned to the US. Kirkebo was awarded a Silver Star and 3 Bronze Stars for his heroism and leadership in action.
Five mark German bank note acquired by Captain James (Jim) Kirkebo who served with the US Army from 1940-45, and in combat with the Thunderbolt Division in Europe from December 1944-May 1945. Kirkebo, age 19, enlisted in the US Army in September 1940. In August 1942, 2nd Lieutenant Kirkebo became commanding officer of C Company, 21st Armored Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division, Third Army. In December 1944, Kirkebo's unit landed in Normandy, and defended Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. The 11th Armored spearheaded the Allied advance into Germany and pushed through to Austria. Kirkebo received a battlefield promotion to captain on February 1, 1945. On May 5 and 6, soldiers from the 11th Armored liberated Gusen and Mauthausen concentration camps. At Mauthausen, they discovered over 19,000 starving inmates. The unit was tasked with caring for the inmates and improving camp conditions. On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered. Kirkebo was on occupational duty until October when he returned to the US. Kirkebo was awarded a Silver Star and 3 Bronze Stars for his Kirkebo was on occupational duty until early October when he returned to the US. Kirkebo was awarded a Silver Star and 3 Bronze Stars for his heroism and leadership in action.
- Title: Nazi Germany, 5 mark note, acquired by a US soldier 2013.442.24 front
- Provenance: The currency was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2013 by Jamie Kirkebo, on behalf of the Estate of his father, James Edward Kirkebo., The currency was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2013 by Jamie Kirkebo, on behalf of the Estate of his father, James Edward Kirkebo.
- Subject Keywords: Soldiers--United States--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Western Front--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Liberation--Personal narratives. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American., Soldiers--United States--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Western Front--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Liberation--Personal narratives. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.
- Type: Exchange Media, Exchange Media
- Rights: Permanent Collection, Permanent Collection
- External Link: See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Medium: Rectangular paper currency in brown ink on a green and brown background, with a wide, offwhite left margin with the denomination 5 and a Reichsadler seal in the bottom corner, and the serial number in red ink in the top corner. It has a rectangle with a patterned border enclosing German text and the denomination Funf Reichsmark, and a framed portrait of an idealized Hitler Youth, above the serial number in red ink. There is a green flourish and a stylized P underprint. The reverse has a blank, wide, offwhite right margin. There is a a centered framed rectangle with an image of a building with a lion statue, flanked by a woman with crops and a sickle and an aproned man with a tool and a plank, with German text above and below. The denomination 5 is near the corners within decorated bands across the top and bottom. The brown-red latticework background has a central green streak. The paper is very worn, discolored, and wrinkled., Rectangular paper currency in brown ink on a green and brown background, with a wide, offwhite left margin with the denomination 5 and a Reichsadler seal in the bottom corner, and the serial number in red ink in the top corner. It has a rectangle with a patterned border enclosing German text and the denomination Funf Reichsmark, and a framed portrait of an idealized Hitler Youth, above the serial number in red ink. There is a green flourish and a stylized P underprint. The reverse has a blank, wide, offwhite right margin. There is a a centered framed rectangle with an image of a building with a lion statue, flanked by a woman with crops and a sickle and an aproned man with a tool and a plank, with German text above and below. The denomination 5 is near the corners within decorated bands across the top and bottom. The brown-red latticework background has a central green streak. The paper is very worn, discolored, and wrinkled.
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