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Weimar Germany, 20 mark note, acquired by a US soldier 2013.442.43 front

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States

Twenty [zwanzig] mark German bank note acquired by Captain James (Jim) 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, 19, enlisted in the US Army in 1940 and, in August 1942, 2nd Lt. Kirkebo became commanding officer, C Company, 21st Armored Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division. In December 1944, Kirkebo's unit landed in Normandy, defended Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, and spearheaded the Allied advance into Germany. 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, the unit was tasked with caring for 19,000 starving inmates. On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered. Kirkebo was awarded a Silver Star and 3 Bronze Stars for his leadership and heroism in action.

Twenty [zwanzig] mark German bank note acquired by Captain James (Jim) 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, 19, enlisted in the US Army in 1940 and, in August 1942, 2nd Lt. Kirkebo became commanding officer, C Company, 21st Armored Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division. In December 1944, Kirkebo's unit landed in Normandy, defended Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, and spearheaded the Allied advance into Germany. 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, the unit was tasked with caring for 19,000 starving inmates. On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered. Kirkebo was awarded a Silver Star and 3 Bronze Stars for his leadership and heroism in action.

Details

  • Title: Weimar Germany, 20 mark note, acquired by a US soldier 2013.442.43 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 20 mark banknote on threaded paper in brown and red ink. The right side of the face has a realistic portrait of a bearded man with beard and glasses. The left side has a wide, offwhite margin with a watermark of this portrait and the denomination 20 over an embossed control seal. The serial number in red is in the upper left and lower right corners. In the center is German text with the denomination ZWANZIG, engraved signatures, an embossed Reichsadler seal, and a large M underprint. The reverse inverts the design with a rectangle with a coin medallion with a man and hammer flanked by cherubs. The denomination 20 is in the 4 corners, with German text at the top and bottom. The serial number in red is in the upper left and lower right corners. On the right is a wide, offwhite margin with the watermarked portait. It is creased with a small tear., Rectangular 20 mark banknote on threaded paper in brown and red ink. The right side of the face has a realistic portrait of a bearded man with beard and glasses. The left side has a wide, offwhite margin with a watermark of this portrait and the denomination 20 over an embossed control seal. The serial number in red is in the upper left and lower right corners. In the center is German text with the denomination ZWANZIG, engraved signatures, an embossed Reichsadler seal, and a large M underprint. The reverse inverts the design with a rectangle with a coin medallion with a man and hammer flanked by cherubs. The denomination 20 is in the 4 corners, with German text at the top and bottom. The serial number in red is in the upper left and lower right corners. On the right is a wide, offwhite margin with the watermarked portait. It is creased with a small tear.

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