Photo Gallery Germany's National Trauma
In 1923, when the government of the Weimar Republic moved to suspend trading of the mark and replace it the rentenmark because hyperinflation had rendered it worthless, children used the banknotes as playthings.
Thousands of people wait in front of a bank. The standard of living for people across German dropped precipitously as a result of hyperinflation -- eventually contributing to Hitler's rise to power.
A 20-million mark note from 1923: By the end of the year, the dollar was worth 4.2 trillion marks.
Because of the lack of coal supplies, patients in this doctors' office are asked to bring a briquette of coal each time they visit so that heat can be provided in the waiting room.
Mark notes are weighed by a woman in 1923: By then, the currency was worth little more than the paper it was printed on.
