Lottery ticket

Reproduction of an original ticket from the 9th German Imperial Lottery (Deutsche Reichslotterie), dated 1943. These tickets were sold for 3 Reichsmarks as “achtellos” – one-eighth shares of a full lottery ticket – and were available to the public through street vendors and designated points of sale throughout the Third Reich.

The purpose of the lottery was not only to offer citizens the chance to win, but more importantly, to support state financing initiatives, especially in job creation and economic mobilization efforts. Revenues were significant – for example, in 1936, over 13 million RM were paid out in prizes, with a portion returned to the state through taxes. Although the lottery did not produce any true economic expansion, it was effective in activating otherwise idle private funds.

The ticket design reflects the administrative style of the period, featuring serial numbers, official stamps, print authorization, and the draw date (in this case, 16–17 April 1943). A subtle but telling artifact of civilian life during wartime.

Ideal for use in documentation kits, exhibition displays, or as a historically accurate detail in reenactment settings.