diff --git a/src/queries/create-order.js b/src/queries/create-order.js
index b43acb8..93987a2 100644
--- a/src/queries/create-order.js
+++ b/src/queries/create-order.js
@@ -52,6 +52,19 @@ function toNumber(value, fallback = 0) {
   return Number.isFinite(n) ? n : fallback;
 }
 
+// order.creationDate comes in as "YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm:ss" (no timezone); treat it as
+// local server time, same as `new Date('YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm:ss')` would. Falls back to
+// the server's current time if missing/unparseable.
+function parseOrderDate(creationDate) {
+  if (creationDate) {
+    const parsed = new Date(String(creationDate).replace(' ', 'T'));
+    if (!Number.isNaN(parsed.getTime())) {
+      return parsed;
+    }
+  }
+  return new Date();
+}
+
 // JTL maps VAT rates to Steuerklassen: 19% => 1 (voller Satz), 7% => 2 (ermäßigt)
 function steuerklasseForVat(vat) {
   if (vat >= 15) return 1;
@@ -435,10 +448,10 @@ export async function createOrder(order) {
   try {
     const zahlungsartCache = new Map();
 
-    // Always use the server's current time for stored timestamps (dErstellt,
-    // number-sequence date placeholders, payment date) rather than trusting
-    // the client-supplied order.creationDate.
-    const orderDate = new Date();
+    // Use the client-supplied order.creationDate for stored timestamps (dErstellt,
+    // number-sequence date placeholders, payment date), falling back to the
+    // server's current time if it's missing/unparseable.
+    const orderDate = parseOrderDate(order.creationDate);
     const { kKunde, kKundengruppe } = await resolveCustomer(transaction, order, defaults);
     const zahlungsart = await resolveZahlungsart(transaction, order.paymentMethodName, zahlungsartCache);
     const cAuftragsNr = await nextOrderNumber(transaction, orderDate);