MV040 - Banknote - Seitz Kassenschein - 20 Mark - Aug.1914 -

Banknote - 20 Mark - Seitz - Aug1914 - GSWA - C53881 

DSWA Banknote - 20 Mark - Seitz - August 1914 - C53881 

With the outbreak of World War I, German South-West Africa, like the other colonies, was cut off from the motherland and thus from the supply of cash. The Imperial Governor reacted to this shortage of cash and issued treasury bills in Mark currency as early as the beginning of August (i.e. in the first month of the war). Denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Marks were issued. All notes are printed on very thin, soft paper. This circumstance also explains why so few notes have survived today. All notes bear the facsimile signature of the Imperial Governor Dr. Seitz, which is why the notes are also called Seitz notes.