Zündwaren monopoly

The German Zündwaren monopoly (translated Monopoly for Safety Matches) began in 1930 when Germany's Reichstag passed a bill named Zündwarenmonopolgesetz ("Safety Matches Monopoly Law"), which allowed the Deutsche Zündwaren-Monopolgesellschaft (translated "German Society for the Safety Matches Monopoly") exclusive rights to distribute safety matches within the borders of the German Empire. The only brands the Deutsche Zündwaren-Monopolgesellschaft could distribute were Welthölzer ("World Matches") and Haushaltsware ("Household article"). Local German manufacturers obtained licenses to produce preassigned volumes to sell domestically and were not allowed to export these matches or to establish new firms.

Haushaltsware 3 Pfennig (30 Pfennig for a package of 10 boxes)
Post-war Welthölzer, Deutsche Zündwaren-Monopolgesellschaft

The official monopoly had been acquired by Swedish entrepreneur Ivar Kreuger,[1][2] the "Match King", which made him a very rich man and remained in effect after the conclusion of World War II and through to 1983.[3] In 1930 the Weimar Republic struggled to deal with war reparations as determined by the Treaty of Versailles while it also tried to tackle the Great Depression. Ivar Kreuger mediated German-French reparation talks and provided Germany with a loan of 125 million Dollars[4] (at that time 500 million Reichsmark). The bonds ran until 15. January 1983 at which time the monopoly arrangement ended. After that, the price for safety matches in Germany fell by a third.

East Germany (1949-1990) did not recognize the effects of the Zündwaren monopoly, no payments were made.

  • Haushaltsware 3 Pfennig until 1945
    Haushaltsware 3 Pfennig until 1945
  • Haushaltsware 1945–1952
    Haushaltsware 1945–1952
  • Haushaltsware 1952–1956
    Haushaltsware 1952–1956
  • Haushaltsware 5 Pfennig since 1956
    Haushaltsware 5 Pfennig since 1956
  • Haushaltsware 7 Pfennig until 1980
    Haushaltsware 7 Pfennig until 1980
  • Unsellable matchbox for employees of the "Deutsche Bundesbahn" (German Federal Railway)
    Unsellable matchbox for employees of the "Deutsche Bundesbahn" (German Federal Railway)
  • Welthölzer
    Welthölzer
  • Welthölzer rectangular cross section
    Welthölzer rectangular cross section

References
  1. Berfield, Susan (April 22, 2009). "The Bernie Madoff of the Jazz Age". New York: Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  2. Gäfvert, Björn. "Ivar Kreuger - The Hero who became a crook". Ericsson History. Centre for Business History, Stockholm and Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  3. Salmon, Felix (August 13, 2009). "Blown Out". The New York Times. New York. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  4. "The match king: Ivar Kreuger was the world's greatest swindler. He would have thrived today". London: The Economist. December 19, 2007. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
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