Advanced Search

Learn About The Holocaust

Special Collections

My Saved Research

Login

Register

Help

Skip to main content

Weimar Germany, 10 mark note acquired by a US soldier

Object | Accession Number: 2013.442.31

Search this record's additional resources, such as finding aids, documents, or transcripts.

No results match this search term.
Check spelling and try again.

results are loading

0 results found for “keyward

    Weimar Germany, 10 mark note acquired by a US soldier
    Loading

    Please select from the following options:

    Overview

    Brief Narrative
    Ten mark bank note of Weimar Germany acquired by Captain James Edward Kirkebo, who served in the US Army from 1940-1945, and fought in Europe with the Thunderbolt Division from December 1944-May 1945. Kirkebo, age 19, enlisted in the Army in September 1940. In August 1942, 2nd Lieutenant Kirkebo became commanding officer, C Company, 21st Armored Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division. In December 1944, Kirkebo's unit landed in Normandy, and defended Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. The 11th Armored spearheaded the Allied advance into Germany and pushed through to Austria. Kirkebo received a battlefield promotion to captain on February 1, 1945. On May 5 and 6, soldiers from the 11th Armored liberated Gusen and Mauthausen concentration camps. At Mauthausen, they discovered over 19,000 starving inmates. The unit was tasked with caring for the inmates and improving camp conditions. On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered. Kirkebo was on occupational duty until October when he returned to the US.
    Date
    issue:  1920 February 06
    Geography
    issue: Germany
    Credit Line
    United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of the Estate of James Edward Kirkebo
    Markings
    face, four corners, black and green ink : 10
    face, top, green ink : Reichsbanknote
    face, center, black ink : ZehnMark / [ illegible] in Berlin / Gegen Diese Banknote Dem Einlieferer / Berlin, den 6 Februar 1920 / Reichsbankdirektorium / engraved signatures [Ten Mark / [?] In Berlin / guaranteed to the depositor / Berlin, 6 February 1920]
    face, bottom, underprint, red ink : 6
    reverse, top left and bottom right corner, black ink : Q 4627280
    reverse, bottom left corner, top right corner, orange ink : 10
    reverse, top, white letters on orange background : Wer Banknoten nachmacht oder verfalscht oder nachgemachte oder verfälscht sich [ it is forbidden to imitate, falsify, or counterfeit Rentenbank certificates
    reverse, center, green ink : 10
    reverse, bottom, white letters on orange background : verschafft und in Verkehr bringt wird mit zuchthaus nicht unter zwei Jahren bestraft [procured and put into circulation shall be punished by imprisonment from two years]
    Contributor
    Subject: James E. Kirkebo
    Issuer: Deutsche Rentenbank
    Biography
    James (Jim) Edward Kirkebo was born on April 22, 1921, in Tacoma, Washington. He was the second of three children born to Gerhard and Irene Kirkebo. His parents were both born in Norway and immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s. Gerhard was a building contractor. In spring 1939, James graduated from high school and took a job as a shipping clerk.

    On September 14, 1940, he enlisted in the US Army. Following the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States entered World War II. James was deployed for four and a half months with the Asia Pacific Technical Operations (APTO) unit, through December 1941. James rose to the rank of Sergeant, with a specialty in reconnaissance. On December 7, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor,a, and a few days later the US entered World War II. On May 11, 1942, James was selected to attend the Army’s newly formed Officer Candidate Course at Fort Benning in Georgia. In early August, Staff Sergeant Kirkebo, 2nd Training Regiment, 16th Co., graduated from the Officer’s Candidate Course and was reenlisted as a Second Lieutenant with a specialty in automotive maintenance and repair. In mid-August, the 11th Armored Division, the Thunderbolt Division, was activated, as part of the Third Army. James was made commanding officer of C Company, 21st Armored Infantry Battalion. The unit was deployed in September to Great Britain. In early December, his unit landed in Normandy, France, and moved north into Belgium. They entered combat on December 30, defending the road to Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. In January 1945, the Division spearheaded the Allied advance into Germany. On February 1, James received a field promotion to Captain. In February and March, the 11th Armored overran several cities, then crossed the Rhine River. In April, the unit turned south towards the Danube River and Austria. James was wounded by shrapnel on April 25, but continued fighting. On May 5 and 6, the Division liberated Gusen and Mauthausen concentration camps, two of the largest camps in Austria. The Medical Inspector’s report on Mauthausen stated that "the situation in the camp on the arrival of the US Forces was one of indescribable filth and human degradation." There were over 19,000 prisoners, most little more than skeletons, and over half in need of immediate medical care. They had to keep the inmates from leaving the camp, until they were able to eat again. After starving for so long, they became sick from eating the soldier's rations or regular food. The 11th Armored Division turned to the task of providing medical services, caring for the inmates, and improving conditions in the camp.

    On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered. The Division was placed on occupational duty until August 31, when it was deactivated. On September 1, James was reassigned to the 9th Armored Division, 52nd Armored Infantry Battalion, C Company. The 9th armored continued occupational duties in Germany until early fall. James returned to the US on October 13, 1945, the same day the 9th Armored Division was deactivated. He was relieved from active duty and honorably discharged. James had participated in the Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe Campaigns and received many medals for his service, including a Silver Star, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in leadership while in action against the enemy, Bronze Stars for heroic conduct, Purple Heart, American Defense Service, and campaign medals. James returned to Tacoma and went into business with his father as a building contractor. In the late 1940s, James married Lorna (1920-1998), and the couple had two children. James joined the 6th Army Reserves Company, Instructor Group, transitioning to retired in 1962. James, age 70, died on June 4, 1991, in Tacoma, Washington.

    Physical Details

    Language
    German
    Classification
    Exchange Media
    Category
    Money
    Physical Description
    Rectangular watermarked paper currency watermarked 250 and printed in green with red and brown accents. The face has a Celtic knot patterned rectangle with the denomination 10 in brown patterned squares in each corner. There is a Reichsbank seal on each side. In the center is the denomination Zehn Mark and several lines of German text and a red 6 underprint at the bottom. The reverse has a rectangle of intertwined Celtic knots with a large red oval outline with white German text. In the center is the denomination 10 within a brown patterned square flanked by a red band with the word mark. The denomination 10 is in red in the lower left and upper right corner of the rectangle; the serial number is in black in the lower right and upper left. The note is torn, soiled, and creased.
    Dimensions
    overall: Height: 3.250 inches (8.255 cm) | Width: 4.875 inches (12.383 cm)
    Materials
    overall : paper, ink

    Rights & Restrictions

    Conditions on Access
    No restrictions on access
    Conditions on Use
    No restrictions on use

    Keywords & Subjects

    Administrative Notes

    Provenance
    The currency was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2013 by Jamie Kirkebo, on behalf of the Estate of his father, James Edward Kirkebo.
    Funding Note
    The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
    Record last modified:
    2024-10-03 13:01:18
    This page:
    https:​/​/collections.ushmm.org​/search​/catalog​/irn84718

    Download & Licensing

    In-Person Research

    Contact Us