Weimar Germany, 10 mark note acquired by a US soldier 2013.442.31 back
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Ten mark bank note of Weimar Germany acquired by Captain James Edward Kirkebo, who served in the US Army from 1940-1945, and fought in Europe with the Thunderbolt Division from December 1944-May 1945. Kirkebo, age 19, enlisted in the Army in September 1940. In August 1942, 2nd Lieutenant Kirkebo became commanding officer, C Company, 21st Armored Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division. 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.
Ten mark bank note of Weimar Germany acquired by Captain James Edward Kirkebo, who served in the US Army from 1940-1945, and fought in Europe with the Thunderbolt Division from December 1944-May 1945. Kirkebo, age 19, enlisted in the Army in September 1940. In August 1942, 2nd Lieutenant Kirkebo became commanding officer, C Company, 21st Armored Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division. 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.
- Title: Weimar Germany, 10 mark note acquired by a US soldier 2013.442.31 back
- 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. 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. 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 watermarked 250 and printed in green with red and brown accents. The face has a Celtic knot patterned rectangle with the denomination 10 in brown patterned squares in each corner. There is a Reichsbank seal on each side. In the center is the denomination Zehn Mark and several lines of German text and a red 6 underprint at the bottom. The reverse has a rectangle of intertwined Celtic knots with a large red oval outline with white German text. In the center is the denomination 10 within a brown patterned square flanked by a red band with the word mark. The denomination 10 is in red in the lower left and upper right corner of the rectangle; the serial number is in black in the lower right and upper left. The note is torn, soiled, and creased., Rectangular paper currency watermarked 250 and printed in green with red and brown accents. The face has a Celtic knot patterned rectangle with the denomination 10 in brown patterned squares in each corner. There is a Reichsbank seal on each side. In the center is the denomination Zehn Mark and several lines of German text and a red 6 underprint at the bottom. The reverse has a rectangle of intertwined Celtic knots with a large red oval outline with white German text. In the center is the denomination 10 within a brown patterned square flanked by a red band with the word mark. The denomination 10 is in red in the lower left and upper right corner of the rectangle; the serial number is in black in the lower right and upper left. The note is torn, soiled, and creased.
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