Japanese Government Invasion Money - Burma 5 Rupee , 1942 , p15 b

The Japanese Government Invasion Currency

Burma - 5 Rupee

1942 - p.15 b

Japanese invasion money, officially known as Southern Development Bank Notes, was currency issued by the Japanese Military Authority, as a replacement for local currency after the conquest of colonies and other states during World War II. In February 1942 in Japan, laws were passed establishing the Wartime Finance Bank and the Southern Development Bank. Beginning with the capture of the Philippines, the Japanese military confiscated all hard currency, both on a federal and individual level, replacing it with locally printed notes bearing a proclamation of military issue. All notes bear the name of the issuer, “The Japanese Government”.

The Japanese invaded Burma in January 1942. They conquered Mandalay on 21 May 1942 forcing the British to retreat into India. The Japanese held Burma until the second Allied campaign of 1944; although an official surrender did not take place until August 1945. In 1942 the Japanese issued paper script currency of 1, 5 and 10 cents and ¼, ½, 1, 5 and 10 Rupees.

In 1943, the Japanese installed Dr. Ba Maw, an outspoken advocate for Burmese self-rule, as the head of the puppet government. From 1943 onward the Japanese issued paper script currency of 1, 5 and 10 Rupee with a 100 Rupee note in 1944. The Japanese characters in the oblong box at the bottom of each note read “Government of Great Imperial Japan” and the contents of the seal at the lower right of the comprise the Japanese symbol for the Minister of Finance.

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