200 Mark 1985, East Germany
| in Krause book | Number: 32 |
| Years of issue: | was not issued |
| Edition: | 50 000 000 |
| Signatures: | no signature |
| Serie: | Staatsbank der DDR |
| Specimen of: | 1985 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 152 x 64 |
| Printer: | VEB Wertpapierdruckerei der DDR, Leipzig |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
The white dove as peace symbol.
Avers:
The family with two children in front of a modern GDR high-rise apartment building (Panel house).
From GDR Press of 1985:
The dynamic development of the economy of the German Democratic Republic creates a solid foundation for a stable implementation of the socio-political program of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, aimed at further growth of welfare of the people, more complete satisfaction of the growing material and cultural needs of the people.
Over 35 years of existence of the first socialist German state into the situation of workers of the country there have been significant changes. In a socialist society became possible once and for all eliminate the social roots of unemployment, improve working conditions of workers and employees, improve the system of payment, a pension, raise the cultural level of the population. The socialist German Democratic Republic in a short historical period has become on a par with the states having the highest standard of living.
A clear indicator of the growing standard of living of the working people of the GDR is a steady increase in national income. If in 1949 - year of the founding of the GDR - The national income amounted to a total of 24 billion marks, then in 1983 it reached 210.1 billion marks.
Stable rates of growth of national income enable the SED and the government of the Republic to constantly increase the social consumption funds, allocate more funds to improve the remuneration of workers and employees, the increase in pension size. All this in turn leads to an increase in real money incomes of the population of the GDR.
The average salary of workers and employees is currently 1075 GDR Marks (in 1949 - 290 Marks). Constantly increasing the minimum wage and minimum income. Today, the minimum wage in the country is 400 Marks.
Gradually increased and the minimum old-age pensions and disability.
In accordance with the Resolution of the Central Committee of the SED, the Central Board of CSIRO and the GDR Council of Ministers with the December 1, 1984 the minimum pension will increase by 30 Marks and 300 Marks will be, and for pensioners and disabled people with work experience - 370 Marks.
Noting the growth of wages, in general, an increase in money incomes of the population of the GDR, it must be said that the country has for almost a quarter century, remain unchanged prices for basic foodstuffs, electricity, gas, the cost of public transport, and postal services. Only in 1983 the country spent from public funds to ensure stable prices in the retail trade, rent and utilities of more than 21.8 billion Marks.
The growth of living standards is evident in the growing year on year retail volume of consumption of basic foodstuffs, security; the population of industrial durable goods. Thus, the turnover of retail trade increased in the country over the period since the X Congress of the Socialist Unity Party (1981), 4 billion Marks and amounted in 1983 104 billion Marks.
The high degree of security of the families of industrial consumer goods. Today, of the 100 families of the GDR are 99 refrigerators, 84 - washing machines, 9 - TV, 42 - passenger cars.
The core of the social policy of the Party continues to be housing. Successfully performed the task: solve the housing issue as a problem until 1990, ie to provide every family, including single, separate comfortable flat... Already today, 98% of all households have a GDR apartment, per inhabitant of the Republic has an average of 15 square meters. m. of living space.
The pace of housing construction is increasing every year. A clear proof of that can be 1983, when it was built or upgraded a total of 197 221 flats. This is 9486 flats more than had been planned for 1983, and 10168 apartments more, it was built and modernized in 1982. Only for the year could improve the living conditions of more than 590 thousand. GDR citizens. In total for the period since 1971, 6 million. Citizens of the republic moved to new comfortable apartments.
One of the areas of social and political activities of the SED is to care about the organization of work and rest of workers. Since 1967, the GDR introduced a five-day working week with two days off. The average duration of release is now brought up to 4 weeks, which is 2 times higher than in 1949 year.
Today, 23 times more than the citizens of the republic spend their holidays in places of recreation vouchers Free German Trade Union Federation. In 1983, the number was 4.9 million citizens. Moreover, it should be stressed that adult citizen pays only 28% of the trade union vouchers, and for children 13-day stay at a health resort cost 30 Mark".
The girl keeping in her hands the toy -bear with rubber face (Gummigesicht Bär), produced by one of GDR Toy factories - VEB Sonni Spielwaren of Sonneberd, Thuringia.
The coat of arms of GDR is on top, more to left side.
The national emblem of the German Democratic Republic featured a hammer and a compass, surrounded by a ring of rye. It was an example of what has been called "socialist heraldry".
The hammer represented the workers in the factories. The compass represented the intelligentsia, and the ring of rye the farmers. The first designs included only the hammer and ring of rye, as an expression of the GDR as a communist "Workers' and Farmers' state" ("Arbeiter- und Bauernstaat"). Surrounded by a wreath, the national emblem also acted as the emblem for the East German National People's Army, and when surrounded by a twelve pointed white star, for the People's Police.
When the federated states in East Germany were abolished and replaced by Bezirke, making the GDR into a unitary state, the national emblem came to be used by the regions too. The East Berlin government did not want regional symbols to be used, since they could stir up regional patriotism and movements for independence.
The emblem was adopted as the GDR's national emblem by a law of 26 September 1955, and added to the national flag by a law of 1 October 1959.
The display of the national emblem was for some years regarded as unconstitutional in West Germany and West Berlin and was prevented by the police. Only in 1969 did the West German government of Willy Brandt reverse this policy in what was known as "Ostpolitik". 
Denominations in numerals are in lower corners, in words centered.
Revers:
The teacher playing with children in Kindergartens backyard.
From GDR Press of 1985:
"In the GDR, in 1949, Kindergartens were considered institutions that train children to school, and in 1965 was officially attachment of pre-school institutions in the educational system of the country. In law, every child from 3 to 6 years provided a place in a kindergarten. The percentage of children in places of security increased from 20.5% in 1950 to 94% in 1988. Thus, parents of complete and incomplete families daily assistance in child care and school readiness was provided. The children were in kindergarten on full state support, parents involved in the payment only for lunch for the kids. Pedagogical content of work with children defined unified state socialist program, implemented by means of educational and training plans.
The younger generation in the GDR paid a lot of attention, it is surrounded by special care of the party and government. This is clearly evidenced by the facts. Today, all children of the appropriate age by their parents may attend nurseries, kindergartens, day-care groups. At the present time (1985) 675 of 1000 children go to daycare, 92% - in the kindergartens, 82% of students of first-fourth levels - Extended Day groups.
Thus, the improvement of living standards of citizens of the GDR is still the main objective of the SED and the government. The summary report of the SED Party Congress X says: "We firmly adhere to the tested course for welfare and culture-based nation wide rate of development of socialist production, increased efficiency, scientific and technological progress and improve productivity"".
The inscription on top: "Wer Banknoten nachmacht oder verfälscht oder nachgemachte oder verfälschte sich verschafft und in Verkehr bringt, wird bestraft".
In English: "Who imitates banknotes or falsified or forged or falsified procures and markets it, will be punished."
On left side, again, is the coat of arms of GDR.
Kindergarten in GDR, 1979.
Denominations in numerals are in lower corners, in words at bottom, centered.
Comments:
In 1985, the State Bank of the GDR printed banknotes in denominations of 200 and 500 marks in the amount of billions of marks. By the decision of the party they were not put into circulation because of concerns that people may perceive them as a sign of inflation. On the other hand, the sale of such banknotes needed when selling certain products (e.g., automobiles). The existence of the notes only became known after the peaceful revolution in the GDR.
It melted about 4,500 tons of coins, but a large number of coins kept in private collections.
All banknotes that were in circulation (about 100 million marks or 620 million banknotes, components in the amount of 4,500 cubic meters), including not released into circulation banknotes in denominations of 200 and 500 marks, in 1990-1991. It was stored in two 300-meter tunnels near the town of Halberstadt. The galleries were sealed two-meter concrete seals and fitted with heavy steel doors. In a humid atmosphere of the mine, paper money had to go through natural decomposition.
In July 2001 it was reported that two residents of the city (24 and 26 years old) managed to enter the store and steal a large number of banknotes. They were sentenced to four months' imprisonment. Currently, these stolen banknotes of 200 and 500 marks occasionally appearing in collectors circles.
After the theft, in connection with the rapid expansion of bank notes is not enough, it was decided to burn them. In March 2002, the money has been removed from the gallery, and in April of the same year, in Schöningen began their destruction, which lasted until 25 June.
The State Bank of the GDR (German: Staatsbank der DDR) was the central bank of East Germany. It was established on 1 January 1968 from the Deutsche Notenbank and took over the majority of the same tasks.
The State Bank of the GDR was responsible for the administration of the internal account settlement and banking system, the issue of money and control of money circulation within the GDR, administration of the exchange control regulations and settlement of foreign currency accounts with overseas companies and governments (Zahlungsverkehr by transfer). In addition, the bank bought and sold financial securities and administered the purchase, sale and holding of precious metals for foreign exchange purposes.
The state bank was also responsible for the account processing of the state institutions and state enterprises, (Volkseigener Betrieb), having at least one main branch in each of the 15 administrative subdivisions of the German Democratic Republic.
If you find my work useful I will be grateful for any help in supporting the site.
-
PayPal
-
For users of European Union banking system