100 year old Elastolin toy figures enrich the Diakoniemuseum exhibition

WW1 10cm Elastolin composition figures are the latest exhibits from the exhibition “Field hospital and traveling cinema. The Inner Mission in Bavaria between the Empire and the Weimar Republic ”in the Diakoniemuseum Rummelsberg (13 November 2018). Dorothea Mirwaldt from Feucht found an old wooden box while cleaning up a friend's attic in Nuremberg - full of Elastolin toy figures from the time of the First World War: soldiers, nurses, pastors. Now the latest “treasures” can be seen in a showcase for visitors.

Will we ever know why Rudolf Hess flew to Scotland ?

On 10 May 1941, Rudolf Hess (26 April 1894 – 17 August 1987) made a solo flight to Scotland, where he hoped to arrange peace talks with the Duke of Hamilton, whom he believed to be a prominent opponent of the British government's war policy. The British authorities arrested Hess immediately on his arrival and held him in custody until the end of the war, when he was returned to Germany to stand trial at the Nuremberg trials of major war-criminals in 1946. During much of his trial, he claimed to be suffering from amnesia, but he later admitted this was a ruse. The Court convicted him of crimes against peace and of conspiracy with other German leaders to commit crimes. He served a life sentence in Spandau Prison; the Soviet Union blocked repeated attempts by family members and prominent politicians to win his early release. While still in custody as the only prisoner in Spandau, he hanged himself in 1987 at the age of 93. After his death, the prison was demolished to prevent it from becoming a neo-Nazi shrine. In 30s, Elastolin and Lineol produced composition 7.5 cm figures representing Rudolf Hess. At this photo you can see the Elastolin one.

9th of May - WW2 Victory Day in Russia

Victory Day marks the end of World War II and the victory of the Allied Forces in 1945. Adolf Hitler had shot himself on April 30. On May 7, German troops surrendered, which was formally accepted the next day, and came into effect on May 9. That's why Russia celebrates WWII triumph on 9th of May.

Victory in Europe Day (VE Day)

Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945, marking the end of World War II in Europe. This is my small collection of surrendering German soldiers produced by different French and Belgian makers (Domage et Cie, Durso, Triumf) in 40s/50s.

Part 2 - Battle on the Grass 🏹🗡⚔🛡

The second set of photos dedicated to the unknown battle of Teutonic and Livonian orders against Novgorod and Pskov Republics (c.1250)...(Plastic soldiers from Sunjade).

Imperial German Navy

The Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) was the navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy, which primarily had the mission of coastal defence. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded the navy, and enlarged its mission. The key leader was Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, who greatly expanded the size and quality of the navy, while adopting the sea power theories of American strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan. The result was a naval arms race with Britain as the German navy grew to become one of the greatest maritime forces in the world, second only to the Royal Navy. Lisanto Kaiserliche composition marines produced in 30s (Germany).

Marx Toys Catalog 1978

The catalog contains the following famous Marx Toys sets of plastic soldiers - Battlefield (WW2), Fort Apache, Navarone, Martian Landing, Bravo Squad, Red River and Prehistoric Dinosaurs Set.

The Marx Toys Catalog 1978 (80 pages) is located here: