The Deutsche Mark, abbreviated "DM" or "D-Mark" ( ), was the official currency of West Germany from 1948 until 1990 and later the unified Germany from 1990 until the adoption of the euro in 2002. In English, it was typically called the "Deutschmark". One Deutsche Mark was divided into 100 pfennigs.
Obverse view of the 2001 special gold issue of the DM1 coin
One Deutsche Mark (1948), first series, Allied military issue
The penalty for counterfeiting and forgery of banknotes (imprisonment at least two years) appeared on the upper right corner of the reverse of all third series banknotes. Note this is the post-1970 variant, featuring "Freiheitsstrafe" instead of "Zuchthaus".
Image: 5 DM Serie 3 Vorderseite
West Germany was the Federal Republic of Germany from its formation on 23 May 1949 until its reunification with East Germany on 3 October 1990. During the Cold War, the western portion of Germany and the associated territory of West Berlin were parts of the Western Bloc. West Germany was formed as a political entity during the Allied occupation of Germany after World War II, established from 12 states formed in the three Allied zones of occupation held by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. The capital was the city of Bonn, hence the Cold War-era country is sometimes known as the Bonn Republic.
Dutch tanks, pictured in West Germany in 1956 as part of the large British and American-led foreign military presence in the country
Konrad Adenauer was a German statesman who served as the first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Rudi Dutschke, student leader
The Volkswagen Beetle – for many years the most successful car in the world – on the assembly line in Wolfsburg factory, 1973
