> Almost none of the problems were caused by monetary policies. Exactly. In that case, hyperinflation was a willed policy to get at anything of value, regardle

> Almost none of the problems were caused by monetary policies. Exactly. In that case, hyperinflation was a willed policy to get at anything of value, regardless of how destructive it would be in the long term, so that it could be shipped abroad (in this case, as war reparations). Making people dip into safe assets, trade them for rapidly worthless currency just to get by, is the whole point of hyperinflation. Maybe an asset-rich person could get by for a while trading directly in his assets, but sooner or later they, or who they traded with, would have to deal someone who was forced to use government currency. At which point they would have to trade something valuable for something (rapidly) worthless: mission accomplished as far as foreign creditors are concerned.