Intershop

Intershops were hard currency shops in East Germany. They sold western goods in exchange for western currencies (typically Deutsche Marks) or forum checks.

The first one opened in 1962 and was targeted at western visitors. Until 1974 it was illegal for East Germans to possess hard currency and hence Intershops were out of bounds. While initially the citizens of East Germany could spend Deutsche Mark in the shops directly, in 1979 the rules changed and Deutsche Marks had to be converted into Forum checks before they could be spent in the Intershop. Foreigners could still spend deutsche marks or other hard currencies directly.

Intershops sold a wide variety of goods including food, clothes and cosmetics. They were the most common way for people in the East to acquire Western consumer products.