Imperial Germany Reichsbanknote, 100 mark note, from the album of a Waffen-SS officer acquired by an American soldier 2013.455.6 front
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Imperial Germany Reichsbanknote, 100 [ein hundert] 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 type of note was first issued on February 8, 1908, during the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II. 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 Reichsbanknote, 100 [ein hundert] 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 type of note was first issued on February 8, 1908, during the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II. 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 Reichsbanknote, 100 mark note, from the album of a Waffen-SS officer acquired by an American soldier 2013.455.6 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: Oversize 100 mark paper currency printed in black and blue ink on ribbed hemp security paper with short blue silk threads, called Wilcox paper. The face has a large blue rectangle with a scalloped border with the denomination 100 in alternating circles. On the left side is a vertical white rectangle with a watermark of an older man, Kaiser Wilhelm 1. In the center is a rectangle with a light blue, imperial escutcheon underprint, overlaid with the denomination Ein Hundert Mark, German text and signatures, and a red Reichsbank seal with the Imperial eagle in each corner. It is framed by 6 panels; on the left is a profile bust of Mercury, the serial number, and denomination 100; on the right, a profile bust of Ceres, Goddess of Agriculture, serial number, and 100. The reverse has an illustration of a forested riverbank with Germania, a watchful, crowned, woman in regal dress seated under an oak tree. Her left arm rests upon a battle shield with an Imperial eagle and she grasps a sword with her right hand. At her feet are implements of industry, commerce and farming, such as an anvil and yoke. Three warships sail up the river in the left background. The denomination 100 is in the 4 inner corners, the serial number in red ink is in the top center, bottom, and bottom right corner, and EinHundertMark is printed across the center. The note is creased and soiled., Oversize 100 mark paper currency printed in black and blue ink on ribbed hemp security paper with short blue silk threads, called Wilcox paper. The face has a large blue rectangle with a scalloped border with the denomination 100 in alternating circles. On the left side is a vertical white rectangle with a watermark of an older man, Kaiser Wilhelm 1. In the center is a rectangle with a light blue, imperial escutcheon underprint, overlaid with the denomination Ein Hundert Mark, German text and signatures, and a red Reichsbank seal with the Imperial eagle in each corner. It is framed by 6 panels; on the left is a profile bust of Mercury, the serial number, and denomination 100; on the right, a profile bust of Ceres, Goddess of Agriculture, serial number, and 100. The reverse has an illustration of a forested riverbank with Germania, a watchful, crowned, woman in regal dress seated under an oak tree. Her left arm rests upon a battle shield with an Imperial eagle and she grasps a sword with her right hand. At her feet are implements of industry, commerce and farming, such as an anvil and yoke. Three warships sail up the river in the left background. The denomination 100 is in the 4 inner corners, the serial number in red ink is in the top center, bottom, and bottom right corner, and EinHundertMark is printed across the center. The note is creased and soiled.
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