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German War Bonds (Read 548 times)
Feb 5th, 2006 at 5:20am
Flt.Lt.Andrew   Ex Member

 
If I were a German in WWII and I gave the government a war bond, would I have ever got my money back?



A.
 
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Reply #1 - Feb 5th, 2006 at 5:04pm

Felix/FFDS   Offline
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If you were a German citizen, in Germany, and gave the (then) German government and bought a war bond, probably not.

If you were a German citizen, living in the US and bought a US War Bond, most probably, yes....

 

Felix/FFDS...
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Reply #2 - Feb 6th, 2006 at 12:50am

Webb   Ex Member
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Interesting question, and I've been wondering why someone didn't research it and give you a definitive answer.  Maybe they are all as lazy as you and I.

Since we are open to wild speculation I suggest:

1. Bonds would have been purchased in pre-war Reichmarks.   In 1945 a Reichmark was worth less than its value in toilet paper.  Hence any bonds would be worthless.

2. A government bond is only as good as the government backing it.  If the government ceases to exist the bonds are worthless - compare American Confederate currency and bonds, which are worth their historical value but nothing else.

3. It is possible that that the post-war government may have have accepted some responsibility to repay bonds.  This is wild speculation but I doubt that the Marshall Plan would have included repaying Nazi bonds.
 
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Reply #3 - Feb 6th, 2006 at 1:13am

myshelf   Offline
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i doubt anyone even tried to collect, as owning war bonds would indicate to be a supporter of the NAZI cause.
 

the reasonable man adjusts to his souroundings, while the unreasonable man insists on adjusting his souroundings to him.&&&&therefore all progress is due to the unreasonable man.
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Reply #4 - Feb 6th, 2006 at 2:22am

Webb   Ex Member
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I think you misunderstand the mindset of the average German citizen.

The average German citizen joined the Nazi party because he didn't have any choice.  He couldn't keep his job if he didn't.  He bought war bonds because it was the patriotic or obligatory thing to do.

Being a member of the Nazi party was no more significant than being a member of the Republican, Democratic, Labour, Liberal, etc. party except that if you weren't a member of the Nazi party you couldn't be employed and, in later years, would be presumed subversive.

If the average post-war German Nazi party member showed up at a bank seeking to cash in his bonds he would probably be told that they were worthless but nothing more.
 
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Reply #5 - Feb 6th, 2006 at 2:48am

Hagar   Offline
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Quote:
Interesting question, and I've been wondering why someone didn't research it and give you a definitive answer.  Maybe they are all as lazy as you and I.

Not that I'm lazy but for once I can't seem to come up with anything. I seem to recall problems with the British war bonds, let alone German ones.* I can't find anything on that either.

*PS. I can't say that I'm really surprised about that.
 

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Reply #6 - Feb 6th, 2006 at 2:52am

Webb   Ex Member
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You could always use CSA (Confederate States of America) bonds as an example.
 
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Reply #7 - Feb 6th, 2006 at 8:10am

myshelf   Offline
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Quote:
I think you misunderstand the mindset of the average German citizen.

The average German citizen joined the Nazi party because he didn't have any choice.  He couldn't keep his job if he didn't.  He bought war bonds because it was the patriotic or obligatory thing to do.

Being a member of the Nazi party was no more significant than being a member of the Republican, Democratic, Labour, Liberal, etc. party except that if you weren't a member of the Nazi party you couldn't be employed and, in later years, would be presumed subversive.

If the average post-war German Nazi party member showed up at a bank seeking to cash in his bonds he would probably be told that they were worthless but nothing more.



while it's true that many people just gotten themself war bonds (and the party book) because they were scared of what might happen to them if they don't, i doubt anyone hung on to those in the face of the denazification.
 

the reasonable man adjusts to his souroundings, while the unreasonable man insists on adjusting his souroundings to him.&&&&therefore all progress is due to the unreasonable man.
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