German ostrubel

Ostrubel (German and Polish: Ostrubel; Latvian and Lithuanian: Ostrublis; Russian: Острубль) is the name given to a currency denominated in copecks and rubels, which was issued by Germany in 1916 for use in the eastern areas under German occupation (Ober Ost and the Government General of Warsaw). It was initially equal to the Imperial rouble. The reason for the issue was a shortage of currency. The banknotes were produced by the Darlehnskasse in Posen (now Poznań) on 17 April 1916.

German ostrubel

Ostrubel (German, Polish) ostrublis (Latvian, Lithuanian) острубль (Russian)
1 Ostrubel, 1916
Plural	The language(s) of this currency belong(s) to the Slavic languages. There is more than one way to construct plural forms.
Denominations
Subunit
1⁄100	copeck (копѣйка)
Banknotes	20, 50 copecks, 1, 3, 10, 25, 100 rubels
Coins	1, 2, 3 copecks
Demographics
Date of introduction	17 April 1916
Official user(s)	Ober Ost Duchy of Courland United Baltic Duchy
Unofficial user(s)	Poland (1918–20) Lithuania (1918–22) Estonia (1918–19)
Issuance
Central bank	Darlehnskasse, Posen
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete. Circulated alongside German Ostmark, with 2 Ostmark = 1 Ostrubel

Reverse side of a 3 Ostrubel banknote, 1916

A 1916 Ober Ost 2-copeck coin, reading 2 Копѣйки 1916 / Gebiet des Oberbefehlshabers Ost

From 4 April 1916, the Ostrubel circulated alongside the Ostmark in the Ober Ost area, with 2 Ostmarken = 1 Ostrubel. In the Government General of Warsaw the Ostruble was replaced by the Polish marka on 14 April 1917.

Denominations

The banknote denominations available were:

• 20 copecks;
• 50 copecks;
• 1 rubel;
• 3 rubels;
• 10 rubels;
• 25 rubels;
• 100 rubels.

The front sides of the banknotes carry a warning in German against forging banknotes. On the reverse sides is the same warning in Latvian (with old style orthography), Lithuanian and Polish.

There were also 1 copeck, 2 copeck and 3 copeck coins, made out of iron.

Aftermath

The Ostrubel circulated in Lithuania together with the Ostmark until 1 October 1922, when it was replaced by the litas.

It was also still in use in a part of the Second Polish Republic during the first months of independence, until 29 April 1920.

Bibliography

• Gerhard Hahne, Die Inflation der Markwährungen und das postalische Geschehen im litauisch-polnischen Raum, Forschungsgemeinschaft Litauen im Bund Deutscher Philatelisten e.V., Uetze, (1996) (in German)
• N. Jakimovs and V. Marcilger, The Postal and Monetary History of Latvia 1918–1945, own book, 1991, pp. 14-13–14-15.

External links

• German banknotes, a.o. Ostrubles and Ostmarks.