The Reichsbank: How Germany's Central Bank Fueled Hyperinflation

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the role of the Reichsbank in Germany's catastrophic hyperinflation of 1923. They focus on the institution's leadership under Rudolf Havenstein, its legal duty to print money against government debt, and the political pressures that prevented reform. The conversation covers the Banking Act of 1875, the Reichsbank's gold reserve requirements, the role of Reichsbank President Hermann von Dechend, and the fateful decision to abandon the gold mark. They also discuss the Rentenbank and the introduction of the Rentenmark in November 1923 as a stabilization measure, and the brief tenure of Hjalmar Schacht as Reichsbank President. The episode ties together monetary policy, war reparations, and political instability, offering a clear look at how a central bank can both cause and cure economic catastrophe. #Reichsbank #Hyperinflation #WeimarRepublic #RudolfHavenstein #Rentenmark #HjalmarSchacht #CentralBanking #GoldMark #Rentenbank #GermanHistory #1923 #EconomicHistory #MonetaryPolicy #WeimarGermany #DeutscheMark #History #FexingoHistory #EuropeanHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo