Historical Error Found in Berlin's 1830 Tiergarten Note
A historical error has been discovered in a note depicting Tiergarten in 1830. The vessel shown was actually sold for scrap in 1824. Meanwhile, another note offers a glimpse into Berlin's past, showing Hallesches Tor in 1845, a gate that allowed Jews to enter the city. These notes are part of a 1921 series of Notgeld from Berlin's Deutsches Historisches Museum.
The Notgeld notes, emergency money issued during Germany's early 1920s inflation crisis, provide a unique snapshot of Berlin's history. Each note was worth 50 pfennigs, a value lower than the official currency due to less inflationary pressure. One note shows Neukölln in 1820, then known as Rixdorf, with grazing cows and goats. By 1921, Neukölln had transformed into an overcrowded workers' district where people bought durable goods with their wages.
During this time, authorities printed Notgeld to combat the severe economic crisis. Inflation was soaring, with prices rising rapidly. By 1923, inflation had reached such heights that prices were increasing at a daily and even hourly rate. Ironically, these notes became targets for political propaganda. Agitators would print over them with Nazi or Communist messages, as people were reluctant to discard them.
These historical notes not only serve as a record of Berlin's past but also offer insights into the economic turmoil of the early 1920s. They remind us of the city's resilience and adaptability in the face of crisis, as well as the power of propaganda to exploit even the most mundane objects.
