Travancores Enskilda Bank 5 Kroner -Red Cross Ship? Military Script? Test Note?

Hello!

I'm looking for help to learn exactly what these Swedish 5 Kroner banknotes represent? Why printed? For whom printed? History? Enskilda Bank blockade during WWll ?

These banknotes (numbered on the reverse) were found among the possessions of a WW ll US soldier who was stationed in Occupied Philippines. They were in a aged envelope. They are not circulated. They are thin paper, not woven or sturdy in its construction.

I did research but cannot state with full certainty:

A Swedish ship built in 1944 called M/S Travancore and was put into service for Red Cross in Asia during WWII. Based on the name, year, Sweden, and simple numbering on the back side, it is possible that these notes were some kind of "ships money" . Perhaps payroll ? Military script?

M/S Travancore was build in 1944 and the owner Swedish East Asia Company put it into service as a Red Cross ship in WWII.
M / S TRAVANCORE.
Built in 1944 by Ab Götaverken, Gothenburg. Ship number. 587. Dimensions. 132.67 x 17.40 x 6.46 m. Brt / Nrt /t. 4506/2478/7200.
Swedish signal. SGWT. IMO. 5367726.
Sister ship. MANGALORE.
1943 12 14. Launched.
Delivered in April 1944 to the Swedish East Asian Company, Gothenburg.

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I learned this as well:
Swedish Bank, Enskilda, possibly with a branch located in the Indian Province of Travancore, India (which existed up to 1949) put these 5 Kroner notes out in 1944. (?????)

Enskilda Bank - World War ll

Before and during the Second World War the Swedish government called upon the bank's management for trade negotiations with Germany, United Kingdom, the United States and Finland.
During the war, in 1939–1941, Stockholms Enskilda Bank acquired a number of subsidiaries within the German Bosch group. The acquisitions were made under the condition of Bosch being able to buy the property back after the war. A similar acquisition was made regarding the American Bosch Corporation.
The U.S. Government considered the acquisitions illegal and the American Bosch Corporation as enemy property, and subsequently confiscated it in 1943. In August 1945, the bank and the Wallenberg brothers were further accused for collaborating with the Nazis, making the U.S. Government impose a blockade on Stockholms Enskilda Bank. The blockade was lifted in 1947.

hinc robur et securitas Phrase
Motto of the Central Bank of Sweden.
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Any input would be deeply appreciated and would be interesting to learn about these notes. - Thanks

 

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Enskilda Bank means "Private Bank" in Swedish, so this would translate to Travancores Private Bank.

The theory that these were used on the M/S Travancore seems more likely than in India based on the denomination. Using the Swedish kronor would have made no sense for notes to be used in India. They would have been denominated in rupees.

 

Hi, I don't know if this is relevant to your query, my Wife's Grandfather was in the Norwegian merchant navy. In the early 1900's some of the Scandinavian islands they had to visit were wholly owned by companies or corporations and would except no currencies. Instead the crew were issued notes (image below) supplied by said companies for use when ashore.

 

Thank you for your reply. I do agree with you .

 

Thank you for your input. Your information is indeed relevant.

Here's a "small world" scenerio...my wife is 1/2 Norwegian and her Dad sailed with The Norwegian Merchant Marines during WWll. He crossed the Atlantic many times while shipping supplies to Russia and England. He never spoke how he paid for goods in Allied Countries but he did relate that his vessel was struck by a U-Boat launched torpedo in The Gulf of Mexico. The ship listed 21 degrees and was towed to repair facilities in Louisiana he related. He also recalled drinking in a British Pub and hearing bombs in the distance. He said the Brits had nerves of steel and were not very rattled at the sounds of the German bombs in the distance. He typically didn't share his war experiences with his family, but he did with me after I married his daughter in 1989.