Alte Kameraden

This striking set of 70mm marching soldiers, each with rifles shouldered, was produced by Elastolin (Germany) between 1939 and 1941. The figures are clad in tunics with six-button detailing, capturing the precise military aesthetic of the era. To bring these composition figures to life, I’ve added a video created with PixVerse AI.

Elastolin national socialists 🗞️📰🗞️📰🗞️📰🗞️

The article from the Oberbergischer Bote (23 May 1938), a Nazi Party-affiliated newspaper, criticizes the commercialization and trivialization of National Socialist symbols through children's toys and consumer goods. It specifically targets the company Hausser, which produced Elastolin toy figures of Nazi leaders such as Hitler, Goebbels, and Göring. These figures, once detailed in the 1937 catalog—including controversial items like a "Blood Flag" bearer—were deemed offensive and labeled as national kitsch (nationalist tackiness). The article acknowledges that by 1938, the worst of these items had been removed from the catalog, but still disapproves of the general concept of turning National Socialist figures into toys. It frames this practice as profiteering and an insult to the dignity of the Nazi cause. The article further supports its stance by quoting a letter from a party member who disapproves of Nazi slogans appearing on products like coal briquettes during election campaigns. The author agrees, stating that not everything should be permissible in the name of propaganda or goodwill, and calls for public vigilance and rejection of such commercialization. In summary, the piece is a propaganda-driven denunciation of the commodification of Nazi imagery, appealing to party loyalty and public morality to curb what it sees as disrespectful and tasteless uses of political symbols.

Full text of this article in English is available here: 

Hausser/Elastolin Wooden Military Fort – Model 13492 (c.1935) 🇾🇪🇾🇪🇾🇪🏰🏰🏰

A rare and finely crafted example of pre-WWII German toy manufacturing, this wooden military fort is Model 13492 from the Hausser/Elastolin catalog, produced circa 1935. Designed with true-to-life detail, the fort features a square layout with Laufgraben (communication trenches), two tinplate flags, dual watch stands, and a rotating armored dome. It is also equipped with three gun barrels accommodating both kneeling and standing figures. Measuring approximately 36 x 27 x 17 cm, this model exemplifies the realism and craftsmanship typical of Elastolin's 1930s production. Rarely found in such complete condition today, it remains a sought-after piece among collectors of vintage composition soldiers.

WWI Brits by Durolin, Germany 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧💥💥💥

These two WWI British Army attacking toy soldiers were made by Durolin in 1930s Germany. I’ve also added a short video of the figures, created with PixVerse AI, to bring them to life. 

 

WW2 postcard - Kleiner Soldat mit Stahlhelm .🪖🪖🪖🗡️🗡️🗡️🇾🇪🇾🇪🇾🇪

Artist-signed postcard by Fr. Bertram issued during the WWII era. Caption: “The God who let iron grow did not want servants.”("Der Gott der Eisen wachsen ließ, der wollte keine Knechte"). Depicts a small child dressed as a soldier, wearing a steel helmet. The phrase is a patriotic line originally from the 19th-century German poem “Das Lied vom deutschen Vaterland” by Ernst Moritz Arndt, often used in nationalist contexts.

Durso Toy Soldiers: Tribute to the Chasseurs Ardennais 🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪⛰️⛰️⛰️🌲🌲🌲

The Bataillon de Chasseurs Ardennais, formed in 1933, was tasked with defending Belgium’s Luxembourg Province and the Ardennes region. Renowned for their resistance during the German invasion in 1940, these troops became national symbols of courage. In the 1940s and 1950s, Belgian toymaker Durso, founded by Russian émigré Michel Klimov, produced finely crafted composition soldiers honoring Belgium’s military history. Among them is the figure 1177, showing two ambulance men carrying a wounded Chasseur Ardennais—a moving scene that reflects both bravery and compassion.

German WW 2 postcard "Steh ich in finstrer MItternacht" 🌙🌛🌝🌚

Postcard - Children's motif - Military - "I'm in dark midnight" - 1930/40.

Automaton in the Shape of a Galley ⛵️⛵️⛵️

Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna (Austria) This remarkable automaton, shaped like a war galley, is both a technical marvel and a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Hidden within its intricately carved hull lies a mechanical engine that once powered the ship to roll across banquet tables while chained convicts rhythmically rowed—bringing the scene to life with mesmerizing precision. Every detail of the galley and its crew was painstakingly crafted using ivory, brass, iron, linen, and silk. The automaton is the collaborative work of two master ivory turners and a skilled clockmaker from Stuttgart: Georg Burrer, Georg Ernst, and Christoph Schorkfel. Their names, preserved on a contemporary parchment note hidden within the ship, bear witness to the legacy of early 17th-century mechanical ingenuity and decorative art. 📏 Dimensions: 51.5 cm × 84 cm × 33.5 cm 🛠 Materials: Ivory, brass, linen, silk, iron 📅 Created: Circa early 1600s, Stuttgart

Elastolin Composition Figure of Hermann Göring 🌬️🌬️🌬️💨💨💨🛩️🛩️🛩️

This historically significant composition figure represents Hermann Göring (1893–1946), a prominent figure in Nazi Germany, known as a military leader, aviator, and high-ranking Nazi official. While his legacy is one of criminality and infamy, his representation in toy soldier form reflects the historical production trends of 1930s Germany. 

The figure was manufactured by Elastolin and featured in their 1939/40 catalog under number 26/21. It is notable for its porcelain head and movable arm, exemplifying Elastolin’s brief production period of high-detail personality figures. Elastolin began incorporating porcelain heads into its composition figures in 1936, aiming to achieve more lifelike and expressive facial features. These porcelain heads were produced separately by the renowned German porcelain maker Hertwig & Co. (Hertwig Katzhütte) of Thuringia, known for their craftsmanship and fine detail.

Amazing Hausser/Elastolin posters

Hausser/Elastolin also gained fame for its visually striking and artistic posters...

Normandy Bunker 🏰🏰🏰

This wooden bunker has been attributed to Lehmann LGB of Nuremberg. While the craftsmanship is impressive, I remain somewhat skeptical about its actual Lehmann origin. I've included several photos of the bunker alongside Lineol and Elastolin composition soldiers for scale and context. The tinplate VW-82 Kübelwagen featured in the scene was manufactured by Gonio (Czech Republic) in the 1990s.

Vienna Panzerhalle 🇦🇹🇦🇹🇦🇹

The historic building of Object 13 in the Vienna Arsenal (Heeresgeschichtliches Museum) was built in 1936 as a garage for military vehicles. Since 2017, it has served as a display of the history of armoured troops - Panzerhalle (Tank hall), containing more than 30 armoured vehicles, allowing visitors to follow the development of armoured combat and fighting vehicles.

80 years ago – End of the Second World War in Europe (1945 - 2025) 🚩🇺🇸🇬🇧🇫🇷

The night of May 8–9, 1945 marks the end of the Second World War in Europe, when Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allied powers— the Soviet Union, the United States, Great Britain, and France. This event is commemorated as the Day of Liberation, also known as Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) or Victory Day. The video was created with Hailuo AI and plastic soldiers from different makers. 

 

Finn the Druid ☘️☘️☘️🧙‍♂️🧚✨

The sculpture of the mythical druid, Finn, is 5.6m high and weighs approx. 1 ton. First it was laboriously formed by hand in clay. Then it was copied into plaster and its detail upgraded. Thereafter it was copied into fibre. Finn self-defines as druid by carrying a few props suggesting his trade albeit of the contemplative twig. In his left hand he carries the Druid's Egg, the power symbol of the druid. It consists of a bundle of snakes. He also wears a bunch of mistletoe, a golden sickle, and a water gourd. The Druid sculpture is on view at the Victor’s Way in Roundwood, Co Wicklow (Ireland).

Austrian military figures made by Helmut Krauhs

Austro-Turkish War (1788–1791) and Napoleonic Wars figures made by a sculptor Helmut Krauhs (1912-1995) (Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, Vienna, Austria).

Russian WW1 Postcard 🇷🇺☦️🪆

Russian WW1 postcard " In trenches".

Day of International Workers Solidarity, the 1st of May 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

International Workers' Day, also called Labour Day in some countries and often referred to as May Day, is a celebration of labourers and the working classes that is promoted by the international labour movement and occurs every year on 1 May. Red Army composition soldiers produced by Salpa Lucca (Italy) in 40s.