Jewish Bankers

The front of the postcard features a cartoon in which two stereotypical Jews are catapulted from a bench by a large sack of money. The German title reads: "Gruss von grossen Bankkrach in Leipzig" ("Greetings from the big bank crash in Leipzig"). The money bag reads: "Trebertrocknungs Aktien Gesellschaft Cassel"

The card refers to the collapse of the Leipzig Bank in the year 1900. In 1899 there was a crash in bank stocks and industrial securities of Russian banks. The loss of capital in Russian companies had an impact in Germany and Belgium, where much of the resources for these companies came from. In Germany, the large syndicates tried to maintain high iron and coal prices by cutting production, but were only partially effective. Banks that had tied up their capital in new industrial projects could not meet their obligations. Two mortgage banks failed in the fall of 1900 because they speculated in real estate through subsidiaries. The bankruptcies triggered a mortgage bond panic.
The Leipzig Bank which was founded in 1839, also failed. Trebertrocknungs Gesellschaft company in Cassel, in charge of securities and bonds,had advanced money to this bank which and they were unable to meet their commitment to repay. The head of the Leipzig Bank request help from Berlin and was refused. This was a huge scandal at the time and because Jews were quite often bankers, many blamed them, although there is littele evidence to show any Jewish involvement.
The stereotype of a Jew as controlling the money is vividly depicted here.

Artist:
Publisher: Bruno Bürger & Ottillie in Leipzig, Germany
Printer:
Date: 1900
Card 6769

Rarity: ☝☝☝☝☝(Less than three seen)