Emergency Money (Notgeld in German) is usually issued by a company during a period of financial crisis. Companies did not need permission from the government. They only distributed money when the state money was not enough or not available.
The money was an alternative form of payment in different regions and places. But most of the time, emergency money was convertible coupons at the businesses that distributed them.
If a civilian could not afford a pack of cigarettes with state money, he can trade in his emergency money
After the First World War, the people were left impoverished. They could not afford much, which affected commerce. As a result, companies passed out Emergency Money to the people so that they could redeem it as needed.
