Schwarzmarkt#

Black Market, any market that operates extra-legally (but in accordance with economic principles). Historically, black markets have been secondary markets for scarce or price-controlled goods, established to escape official regulation, or for the sale of contraband, illegally acquired goods or goods whose sale has been forbidden (addictive drugs etc.). An extensive black market developed in Austria during the supply crisis caused by the First World War. In World War II the formation of a black market was by and large prevented by draconian measures, but after the end of the war certain goods were almost only available via the black market (the main barter "currencies" were cigarettes, gold and jewellery etc.). The black market disappeared in early 1950 when the supply of goods improved and black-market prices approximated those of regular markets. Black markets for a variety of goods (including firearms) emerged temporarily after the political changes in Eastern Europe after 1989 in parts of Vienna close to the Danube ("Polish black market" around Mexikoplatz).