MV041 - Banknote - Seitz Kassenschein - 50 Mark - Aug.1914 - B-5339

Banknote - 50 Mark - Seitz - Aug1914 - GSWA - B-5339

DSWA Banknote - 50 Mark - Seitz - August 1914 - B-5339

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 already at the beginning of August (i.e. in the first month of the war) had treasury notes issued in Mark currency. 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 to this day. All notes bear the facsimile signature of the Imperial Governor Dr. Seitz, which is why the notes are also called Seitz notes.