Before the euro, Germans paid for their bratwurst with Deutsche Marks (often just called “marks”).

Quick Scoop: What Came Before the Euro?

Before the euro became Germany’s official currency in 2002, everyday purchases like a bratwurst were paid for in Deutsche Marks.

This currency, introduced in 1948, was famous for its stability and became a symbol of post‑war German economic recovery.

A Bit of Background

  • The Deutsche Mark (DEM) was introduced in 1948 after the turbulent Reichsmark era.
  • It remained Germany’s official currency until it was replaced by the euro in 2002.
  • From groceries and rent to that classic street‑stall bratwurst, everything was priced in “Mark” and “Pfennig” (like dollars and cents).

Mini Timeline of German Money

  1. Goldmark (from 1873).
  1. Papiermark and Rentenmark during and after World War I.
  1. Reichsmark (1924–1948).
  1. Deutsche Mark (1948–2002), used right up until the euro took over.

So, if you were grabbing a bratwurst in Berlin in the 1990s, you weren’t pulling out euros yet—you were handing over a few Deutsche Marks.

TL;DR:
Before the euro became the official currency, Germans paid for their bratwurst with Deutsche Marks.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.