50 Post World War I German Bank Notes, From 1922-1923. Between 1 Mark And 20 Trillion Marks. Germany suffered from hyperinflation following World War I and the requirement of paying reparations on a world scale. In order to fund the war, Germany had decided to borrow all the necessary funds, rather than raising or imposing taxes. After the war, the banks were unable to repay these debts, which was compounded by reparation requirements, which lead to the German Mark becoming vastly inflated, reaching a point where a billion marks were necessary to buy a loaf of bread. The German National Railways were authorized by banks to help print bank notes and support the growing currency issues. These notes became a principal means of payment through 1923. Financial Institutions Included: Bayerischen Staatsbank (Bavarian State Bank), Reichsbahn Stuttgart (Stuttgart Railway), Hessische Landesbank (Hessen State Bank), Deutsche Reichsbahn (German National Railway), Wurtembergische Notenbank (Wurtemberg Bank), Reichsbahn Frankfurt Am Main (Frankfurt Railway), Sachsische Bank (Sachsen Bank). Largest Approximately 7.5625W x 4.625H in. Smallest Approximately 3.5625 x 2.375 in.