German ostruble
Encyclopedia
Ostruble is the name given to a currency denominated in kopeck and ruble, which was issued by Germany
in 1916 for use in the eastern areas under German occupation (Ober Ost
and the Government General of Warsaw
). It was initially equal to the Russian ruble
. The reason for the issue was a shortage of rubles. The banknotes were produced by the "Darlehnskasse" in Posen (now Poznań
) on 17 April 1916.
From 4 April 1918, the Ostruble circulated alongside the Ostmark
in the Ober Ost
area, with 2 Ostmarks = 1 Ostruble. In the Government General of Warsaw the Ostruble was replaced by the Polish marka
on 14 April 1917.
The front sides of the banknotes carry a warning in German against forging banknotes. On the reverse sides is the same warning in Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish.
There were also 1 kopeck, 2 kopecks and 3 kopecks coins, made out of iron.
together with the Ostmark until 1 October 1922, when it was replaced by the litas
.
It was also still in use in a part of the Second Polish Republic
during the first months of independence, until 29 April
1920.
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
in 1916 for use in the eastern areas under German occupation (Ober Ost
Ober Ost
Ober Ost is short for Oberbefehlshaber der gesamten Deutschen Streitkräfte im Osten, which is a German term meaning "Supreme Commander of All German Forces in the East" during World War I. In practice it refers not only to said commander, but also to his governing military staff and the district...
and the Government General of Warsaw
Government General of Warsaw
The Imperial German General Government of Warsaw was an administrative civil district created by the German Empire in World War I. It encompassed most of the north-western parts of the erstwhile Russian-ruled Vistula Land , covering nearly its entire half.Although initially a part of Ober Ost...
). It was initially equal to the Russian ruble
Russian ruble
The ruble or rouble is the currency of the Russian Federation and the two partially recognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Formerly, the ruble was also the currency of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union prior to their breakups. Belarus and Transnistria also use currencies with...
. The reason for the issue was a shortage of rubles. The banknotes were produced by the "Darlehnskasse" in Posen (now Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
) on 17 April 1916.
From 4 April 1918, the Ostruble circulated alongside the Ostmark
German ostmark
Ostmark is the name given to a currency denominated in Mark which was issued by Germany in 1918 for use in a part of the eastern areas under German control at that time, the Ober Ost area. The currency consisted of paper money issued on 4 April 1918 by the ‘Darlehnskasse’ in Kowno and was equal to...
in the Ober Ost
Ober Ost
Ober Ost is short for Oberbefehlshaber der gesamten Deutschen Streitkräfte im Osten, which is a German term meaning "Supreme Commander of All German Forces in the East" during World War I. In practice it refers not only to said commander, but also to his governing military staff and the district...
area, with 2 Ostmarks = 1 Ostruble. In the Government General of Warsaw the Ostruble was replaced by the Polish marka
Polish marka
The marka was the currency of the Kingdom of Poland and of the Republic of Poland between 1917 and 1924...
on 14 April 1917.
Denominations
The denominations available were:- 20 kopecks;
- 50 kopecks;
- 1 ruble;
- 3 rubles;
- 10 rubles;
- 25 rubles;
- 100 rubles.
The front sides of the banknotes carry a warning in German against forging banknotes. On the reverse sides is the same warning in Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish.
There were also 1 kopeck, 2 kopecks and 3 kopecks coins, made out of iron.
Aftermath
The Ostruble circulated in LithuaniaLithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
together with the Ostmark until 1 October 1922, when it was replaced by the litas
Lithuanian litas
The Lithuanian litas is the currency of Lithuania. It is divided into 100 centų...
.
It was also still in use in a part of the Second Polish Republic
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
during the first months of independence, until 29 April
1920.