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. In 1979 the rules changed and Deutsche Marks had to be converted into forum checks before they could be spent in the intershop.

Intershops sold a wide variety of goods including food, clothes and cosmetics.