Prison Bank at Guestrow

Notes:

French and Russian prisoners conduct business at the prison bank at Guestrow. POW's earned money while working on labor detachments and received funds from friends and family back home. POW's did not receive legal currency but instead used Lagergeld, money which could be used for purchases inside the prison camp. By eliminating access to legal tender, German authorities hoped to reduce opportunities for bribery and funding escape attempts.

Date Created:

1918-01-01T00:00:00Z

Data Provider:

Western Michigan University. Libraries

Subject Topic:

Germany, Guestrow, Finances, Banking, French POWs, RUssian POWs, World War 1914-1918, Diplomatic History, European History, Military History, and Political History

Rights:

No Copyright - United States. Physical ownership of materials: Wilhelm Doegen, “Kriegsgefangene Voelker,” Berlin: Verlag fuer Politik und Wirtschaft, Photo 26, 1921, 78B.

URL:

https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/wwi_pow_camps/1085