The outbreak of World War I caused Germany to abandon the classical gold standard. On July 31, 1914, the German government officially declared impending danger of war; the same day, the Reichsbank stopped the redemption of its banknotes against gold marks. A few days later, on August 4, 1914, several laws were enacted to abolish gold standard and establish a paper currency instead. This set conditions for an increase of money in circulation hitherto unheard-of.