Imperial Germany, 50 mark note, series 1, from the album of a Waffen-SS officer acquired by an American soldier 2013.455.4 front
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Imperial Germany 50 [funfzig] mark note from the album of Hauptsturmfuhrer Gerhard Pleiss, an officer in the Waffen-SS, SS-Panzer-Division Leibstandarte SS "Adolf Hitler," 1st Company. This note, issued in June 1919, bears the Imperial eagle crest and was the final issue of Imperial Germany, although that regime collapsed in November 1918, at the end of World War I. Germany then became a republic, but was in a transitional period until the new constitution was adopted in Weimar in August 1919. In 1936, the 21 year old Pleiss volunteered for the SS and was accepted into the Leibstandart, Hitler's personal bodyguard. He was awarded for his leadership in the May 1940 invasion of France and the April 1941 Balkans campaign. In June 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union. Pleiss was killed by a mine on November 17, 1941, during the offensive on Rostov-on-Don. The note was preserved in Pleiss's photograph album, which was brought back from the war by Milton V. Elliott, an American soldier.
Imperial Germany 50 [funfzig] mark note from the album of Hauptsturmfuhrer Gerhard Pleiss, an officer in the Waffen-SS, SS-Panzer-Division Leibstandarte SS "Adolf Hitler," 1st Company. This note, issued in June 1919, bears the Imperial eagle crest and was the final issue of Imperial Germany, although that regime collapsed in November 1918, at the end of World War I. Germany then became a republic, but was in a transitional period until the new constitution was adopted in Weimar in August 1919. In 1936, the 21 year old Pleiss volunteered for the SS and was accepted into the Leibstandart, Hitler's personal bodyguard. He was awarded for his leadership in the May 1940 invasion of France and the April 1941 Balkans campaign. In June 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union. Pleiss was killed by a mine on November 17, 1941, during the offensive on Rostov-on-Don. The note was preserved in Pleiss's photograph album, which was brought back from the war by Milton V. Elliott, an American soldier.
- Title: Imperial Germany, 50 mark note, series 1, from the album of a Waffen-SS officer acquired by an American soldier 2013.455.4 front
- Provenance: The bank note was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2013 by Wendie Theus, daughter of Milton V. Elliott., The bank note was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2013 by Wendie Theus, daughter of Milton V. Elliott.
- Subject Keywords: Soldiers--Germany--Biography. Soldiers--United States--Biography. Souvenirs (Keepsakes)--Soldiers--Germany--Biography. Souvenirs (Keepsakes)--Soldiers--United States--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, German., Soldiers--Germany--Biography. Soldiers--United States--Biography. Souvenirs (Keepsakes)--Soldiers--Germany--Biography. Souvenirs (Keepsakes)--Soldiers--United States--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, German.
- 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: 50 mark paper currency printed with green, purple, and light brown ink. The face has a layered, geometric background. In the upper right is a portrait of a young woman in Jugenstil headdress in an ornate frame with the denomination 50 in the pedestal below. In the center is the denomination funfzig mark, German text, and engraved signatures. Reihe 1 is stamped in purple in the upper left corner. Near the bottom are 2 purple Reichsbank seals with the Imperial eagle, letters, and a stamped serial number. The reverse is in black and dark green, with an orange underprint. The background has a fine, netted design with a dark purple rectangle framed in light brown. Across the center are 3 stylized floral ornaments with the denomination 50 within the outer 2 and the letters R B D above and below the center circle. The note is very worn, creased, and soiled., 50 mark paper currency printed with green, purple, and light brown ink. The face has a layered, geometric background. In the upper right is a portrait of a young woman in Jugenstil headdress in an ornate frame with the denomination 50 in the pedestal below. In the center is the denomination funfzig mark, German text, and engraved signatures. Reihe 1 is stamped in purple in the upper left corner. Near the bottom are 2 purple Reichsbank seals with the Imperial eagle, letters, and a stamped serial number. The reverse is in black and dark green, with an orange underprint. The background has a fine, netted design with a dark purple rectangle framed in light brown. Across the center are 3 stylized floral ornaments with the denomination 50 within the outer 2 and the letters R B D above and below the center circle. The note is very worn, creased, and soiled.
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