Weimar Hyperinflation
This brief but consequential period saw the complete collapse of the German currency, with inflation reaching rates where prices doubled every 3.7 days. At its peak, one dollar equaled 4.2 trillion marks. Beyond economic devastation, this event had profound psychological and cultural impacts, destroying the middle class's savings and creating deep distrust of democratic institutions. Less known is how the experience transformed everyday life—workers were paid twice daily and rushed to spend money immediately, bartering replaced currency, and creative emergency currencies (Notgeld) featuring local imagery became collectors' items.
Timeline and Overview
This brief but consequential period saw the complete collapse of the German currency, with inflation reaching rates where prices doubled every 3.7 days. At its peak, one dollar equaled 4.2 trillion marks. Beyond economic devastation, this event had profound psychological and cultural impacts, destroying the middle class's savings and creating deep distrust of democratic institutions. Less known is how the experience transformed everyday life—workers were paid twice daily and rushed to spend money immediately, bartering replaced currency, and creative emergency currencies (Notgeld) featuring local imagery became collectors' items.