Collecting German Toy Soldiers - Part I

Collecting pre-war German composition figures and related tin-plate vehichles has become increasingly popular over the years. The proliferation of reproductions and fakes that seem to touch nearly every field of 3rd Reich memorabelia has made collecting these quality toys from that ear an attractive alternative. It has been estimated that the number of serious collectors in both America and Europe has increased over ten times since 1975! Current dealer sales lists and toy soldier sales reflect increasingly higher prices being paid for quality pieces.

This is the first in a series of articles in DG aimed at expanding the military collector's knowledge and awareness of this little understood buy increasingly popular hobby.Since the turn of the century a number of German toy manufacturers produced, in addition to regular toys and games, a line of composition military figures in mainly 6.5cm and 10.5cm sizes. The best and most prolific of the manufactuers were the firm of Hausser (their figures were trademarked "Elastolin") and they were located in Ludwigsburg and the firm of Lineol located near Brandenburg.

In 1933 Hitler and the Nazi Party came to power in German and it suddenly became expedient (and profitable) for manufacturers to expand their lines to include not only military but political figures. The scale was standardized to 7cm. in size and increasing importance was placed in figure production during the 3rd Reich ear. Successive Hausser and Lineol toy catalogs of that period devoted more and more pages to military and political figures at the expense of their other non-military toys. Realistic figures were created of 3rd Reich and Axis personalities such as Hitler, Goring, Mussolini, Hess, Gobbles, Lutze and Roehm. Beautiful Elastolin figures in various poses were made of Hitler, Goring, Mussolini, Franco and Hindenburg with finely detailed porcelain heads and movable saluting arms. Figures representing nearly all branches of the military and political spectrum were produced, such as the Army, Luftwaffe, Navy, SS, SA, Labor Corps, Hitler Youth, German Youth and even the little girls of the BDM, each with their respective flagbearers and musicians. Numberous posses were made that reflected nearly every aspect of military activity, from marching bandsmen to action figures, mounted cavalry, artillery, pioneers and Lager (Bivouac) figures.

During this period both firms greatly expanded their line of qualiy tin-plate military toy vehichles and guns, reflecting the latest designs of real German military equipment. Wonderful trucks, staff cars, tanks, armored cards, cannons and motorcycles were produced, all in either the early camp brown, tan and green or wartime gray colors. Many had working electric lights, cap firing guns, clockwork motors, direction turn signals, cloth folding tops and seated crew figures. The rarest and most desirable of these that survived the war is the large and wonderfully detailed Hausser half-track with eleven seated figures and the eight-wheeled "Panzerspahwagen" armored car. Both measure over 13 inches long and, in 1939, cost the average German worker almost a full weeks wages! Like the composition figures, these vehichles and guns, in good original condition. command top dollar. In future articles I'll discuss in greater details specific groups of figures and tinplate toys. In addition I plan one article devoted to recognizing repaired, repainted and reproduction pieces.

Fred Ramm, "Collecting German Toy Soldiers - Part I", DER GAULEITER, 1988