I picked up 'War Prisoner Money and Medals' because it promised a weird kind of history – the kind that hides the biggest stories in the smallest objects. And it delivered. This isn’t a typical war book; it gets into crazy, forgotten trades that happened inside Nazi camps. Guido Kisch, a historian who lived through it himself, collected actual medals, tokens, and even chess pieces turned legal tender. It sounds insane, but it’s real.

The Story

During WWII, prisoners of war and inmates had next to nothing. No money, no shops, no freedom. So they made their own systems. Guido Kisch shows how pieces of fabric, carved wood, or metal scraps became unofficial money used inside camps. The big questions: how did guards let this happen sometimes? And why did prisoners mark or stamp metal with propaganda signs? Actually, this ‘Camp Money’ turned propaganda into actual currency that bought meals. History or not, it’s bonkers.

Why You Should Read It

First, it feels personal. Kisch isn’t some detached writer – he was there. He doesn't throw fancy academic jargon; instead, he describes exactly how POWs paid each other for a butter plate by cutting a button into fractions. The real killer idea here is survival economics – under the noses of the Nazis. If you love seeing real-world, gritty creativity (like people wrapping tinfoil to make coins) you’ll eat this up. Also, I learned dumb stuff – some camp money just gets pocketed by guards even now. Like, they rip it off former inmates? We get dark jokes twisted into facts here. It’s amazing.

Final Verdict

This book is weird gold: perfect 'for history buffs who dig world wars / prisoner of war details' but also for everyday readers who just want crazy true stories about people improvising against bad odds. It’s short, packed with photos, and reads like your neighbor telling a spooky tale over coffee. The only warning is that thematic weight – you'll feel the narrow line of people hustling even millions of volts of guns around them. So yes: pre-order your shop–keeper’slots. If propaganda-y pocket change excites you, just grab a library hider version and dive to prison-made science projects.**