Between the devil and the deep blue sea - University of Canterbury

- ZG5 -
In February 1915, Buhlman declared an export restriction on copper coins. Locals
moved large amounts of money moved across the border to make ample use of favourable
exchange rates in Belgium and Gennany. As copper was a prohibited export commodity,
Buhlman believed it appropriate to restrict the movement of copper specie. 43 His decision
resulted from difficulties experienced in late 1914, when he noted a marked increase in the
circulation of Gennan currency in Limburg, most probably caused by the sale of smuggled
goods in Gelmany and exchange of Dutch guilders; some Limburg employers even paid
their staff in Gennan cUlTency.44 For reasons that remain unclear, the government was
unwilling to declare the import or export of money illegal. Buhlman had no such
compunction, prohibiting the movement of copper coins. Likewise, the Territorial
Commander attempted to dissuade smugglers in Friesland by forbidding payments in
foreign currency in his "state of siege" communities. 45
Despite every effort to make them work, the many anti-smuggling measures
imposed in the "state of siege" actually did very little to decrease instances of illegal trade.
As the regulations became more repressive, smugglers became more cunning. On 3 August
1915, the government passed a law making it compulsOlY for all merchants to register and
document the movement of their goods throughout the country.46 When widespread
shortages made smuggling an issue of national welfare, some military authorities even
requested that priests preach against the "sin" of smuggling in their Sunday sennons. 47 If
the call to conscience was ever made in Groesbeek, a mostly Catholic village of notorious
smugglers, it went unheeded. In February 1916, the local militmy commander there took the
radical step of raising electric streetlights throughout the community so that it was easier to
spot people leaving their houses at night. 48
43 Commander of the Field Army to Commander-in-Chief, 26 February 1915, ARA, "Archieven van de Generale
Staf' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 167.
44 Commander of the Field Army to Commander-in-Chief, 14 November 1914; Commander-in-Chiefto Minister of
Finance, 18 November 1914, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Staf' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 96.
45 TelTitorial Commander in Friesland to military commanders, 10 February 1915, in ARA, "Archieven van de
Generale Staf' entry no. 2.l3.70, inventory no. 202.
46 Staatsblad. no. 532,3 August 1915.
47 Ritter, De Donkere Poort Volume 2, p. 195; Kleijngeld, Gel710biliseerde militairell ill Tilburg p. 152.
48 Commander of the Field Army to Commander-in-Chief, 20 February 1916, in ARA, "Archiefvan het
Hoofdkwartier Veldleger" entry no. 2.13.16, inventory no. 293.