Reichsbank

the central bank of issue of Germany, which existed from 1875 until the end of World War II. The bank was a private joint-stock society but entirely under the jurisdiction of the state. The stock capital was originally 120 million marks and rose to 150 million in 1930. During World War I, the Reichsbank financed Germany’s military expenditures. In accordance with the Dawes Plan, from 1924 to 1929 the Reichsbank was controlled by foreign creditors, who received reparation payments through the bank. In 1936 the bank acquired a monopoly right to issue bank notes.

The Reichsbank played a particularly important role in mobilizing financial resources for fascist Germany’s aggression. In 1939 all limitations on bank loans to the state were removed. The financial plundering of the temporarily occupied countries of Europe was carried on through the bank. After the collapse of fascist Germany the bank was liquidated according to the decisions of the Potsdam (Berlin) Conference of 1945.