Germany before the NAZIs had one of the ldading toy industries in the world. Steif teddies are particularly knonw. As are several doll makers. We note many girls playing with dolls houuses and boy will electric trains. Toys were also important Germam exports. This changed with the NAZIs. Perhaps the major casualty ws metal toys as more and more of Germany's production of metal was devoted to war-related industries. We are not entirely sure how this affected the availability of toys are to what extent this was noted by the public. German exports declined during the NAZI era. The pre-War NAZI economy with it huge military expenditures was unsustainable. This changed after the War begun because the NAZIs could plunder occupied countries to support its economy. Toys of course are just one example of a lost export industry. We have some idea of the toys German children played with during the War because of the photographic record.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to Main German World War II play page]
[Return to Main German World War II home front page]
[Return to Main World War II displaced children page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]