Ostruble (German and Polish: Ostrubel; Latvian and Lithuanian: Ostrublis; Russian: Острубль) is the name given to a currency denominated in kopeck and ruble, which was issued by Germany in 1916 for use in the eastern areas under German occupation (Ober Ost and the Government General of Warsaw). It was initially equal to the Russian ruble. The reason for the issue was a shortage of rubles. The banknotes were produced by the Darlehnskasse in Posen (now Poznań) on 17 April 1916. There were also 1 kopeck, 2 kopeck and 3 kopeck coins, made out of iron.
The Ostrubel circulated in Lithuania together with the Ostmark until 1 October 1922, when it was replaced by the litas. It was also still in use in a part of the Second Polish Republic during the first months of independence, until 29 April 1920. | 