DDR Toys background knowledge
GDR toys history :
After WW2 and with the formation of the GDR, Russian occupying forces stressed to boost the toy industry again - Of course kids wanted nothing more than normality again after the war had ended. After this senseless war had ended, companies for armament and war production were forcibly disowned within the Russian occupied zone. As of 1946 the so called Liefergenossenschaften, short ELG were founded. These had the privilege to receive material first. GDR (German Democratic Republic) - this meant also socialism and the attempt for planned economy.
When the state controlled - planned economy started, the free development was reduced to zero. So called VEBs, national controlled enterprises were established, which were preferably sponsored. Dissatisfied entrepreneurs left the GDR. Left behind companies were then nationalised. One example is the company Max Karl Judenbach which was restructured to VEB Mesju Mechanische Spielwaren Judenbach. The state "bought" itself more into private companies. The owner was now left as unlimited partner or head of the company. As of 1950 producers' cooperatives were founded, short PGH.
The pressure of competition was in the planned economy advertising none existent in contrast to the free enterprise, but distorted the growth. The results were long development times and the partial standstill of innovations. Because of the very poor development, toys could not compete in the world market anymore as of middle 1950. The industry now tried to restructure and avoid double-developments.
From the 70s private companies were put under pressure even more and nationally controlled enterprises (VEB) further sponsored. Similar firms were put together in to so called combines. One example is the VEB Modell und Plastspielwarenkombinat Annaberg Buchholz or the VEB Kombinat Puppen und Plüschspielwaren Sonni Sonneberg. The GDR government did try to cover the demand of its nation but sadly only achieved it moderately. To get foreign exchange the export was also very important for the GDR that's why business on exhibitions in Leipzig and Nuremberg were centrally handled, lead by the Demusa, nationally owned foreign trade company of the GDR. Contact with foreign customers was only made possible to so called travel cadres, which made contact to the actual producers impossible. But GDR toys were also popular in the non-socialistic foreign countries, especially as it was cheap and that's how export into socialistic and non-socialistic countries was common. France, BRD (West Germany), Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands to name only a few.
Our Conclusion: Toys made in the GDR, their developers and producers are representing a piece of the German Past and industrial History and should be protected for generations to come! (the historical and museum-processing is an ongoing process - we understand ourselves as hobby-historians and are always interested in new information around the GDR-toys. The here shown refers to external sources as well as own mindset.
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Welcome to the homepage DDR-Spielzeug.com
We would like to invite you to a virtual time-travel through 40 years of East German-toys and their stories, discover your own GDR-toys or the ones of your kids, grandchildren or friends... Or get to know GDR toys and their histories! Our collection of toys does travel and can be viewed in museums all over the world!!! (more information in the news section or at https://www.facebook.com/DDR-Spielzeug-489973954738837)
The collection has "grown" since the last 3 decades - which means, it consists not only of GDR-toys but for example their packaging, information, advertising, catalogues, basically everything with regards to them. From A in aeroplane via steam machines, boats, doll houses, educational toys, small toys, tin toys, bulldozers, cars, building sets, games and many more but basically the complete toy range for the whole family can be found here!
The toys were manufactured all over Eastern Germany but specifically in Thuringia, Saxony but also Brandenburg from companies like Sonni, PrefoDresden, MSB Mechanische Spielwaren Brandenburg, MSW Mechanische Spielwaren Weimar, VEB Piko Mechanik, Vero Olberhau EKT Dresden but also Max Carl Judenbach Mes Ju, Linol Dresden, Zeuke Berlin... to name only a few.
GDR toy collector Eric Palitzsch and the collection
My hobby is collecting all kinds of toys from former East Germany (GDR). Authenticity and bringing the toys "back to life" is very important for me. How does one start a hobby like this, one could ask? I hear this question a lot. Well, as it happens with many collectors, you just keep hold of things. There is the interest for all kinds of things and with time it gets more and more..... the same has happened to me. Some toys are from my own childhood or my siblings'. In GDR toys often used to be kept in families for generations or had been passed on and therefore survived many years. As we were 5 kids at home I used to have more time with toys. I also had two much younger brothers and if toys broke, they ended up with me for repair, or I wanted to "obtain" my siblings presents in form of toys.... With the end of the GDR my siblings had the desire for other toys. The toys all for a sudden gone unnoticed. East Germany dissolved - disposed of.... All for a sudden, there were East German toys in the shops which I could never get hold off as a child. That's how I started collecting. In the beginning it was only collecting mechanical GDR-toys, then I expanded to the whole GDR-toy-portfolio. From toy cars to board games, everything came together.
GDR is now history. My/our collection has for sure got no political background! But if you look closer and question it, the toys can tell many stories. 40 years of GDR-toy history is a completed collection and with it, a testimonial and part of a history, which, in my opinion, should be kept safe for generations to come. Why not start a time-travel, maybe you will find your favourite toy or have a look at toys, made in GDR you have never seen before in our GDR-toy-gallery. Have fun and many thanks for visiting. If you like it, please pass it on! If you dont, please let me know.
Your collector Eric Palitzsch
GDR Toy Gallery (currently under construction)
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GDR Toy dates and news
Eric ,Max & Annelie s Spielzeugschachtel
DDR Spielzeug Ausstellung
40 Jahren DDR Spielzeug - Geschichte (n)
Unsere Spielzeugschachtel lädt zur kleinen Zeitreise ein. Zu entdecken gibt es DDR- Holzpuppenhäuser, Blecheisenbahnen, Plasteautos und vieles mehr. Wir haben unsere Lagerräume zum Museum umgebaut und präsentieren Spielzeuge aller Art aus 40 Jahren DDR-Produktion.(wechselnde Ausstellungsobjekte und Themen) Natürlich gibt es einige DDR Spielzeuge in Aktion zu erleben bzw. können auch "getestet" werden. Einige ausgewählte Spielzeuge werden in Aktion zu erleben sein. "Was ist ein Juniorfon? Wie funktionieren Spielzeuge mit Uhrwerksantrieb? Welches Waschprogramm benutzen Puppeneltern damals? Und wie schnell fährt der Polizeiwartburg mit Kabelsteuerung?"
Termine 2023:
jeden 1.Sonntag von 13-17 Uhr (Außer Juli bis Oktober)
sowie am 14./15.01.23, 22.01.23, 12.02.23, 09./10.04.23, 28.05. 23, 10./11.06
jeweils 13-17 Uhr, ab Dezember neue Termine (wechselnde Exponate)
Wo? Steigerstraße 14 01705 Freital
In der alten Schule ( Parkplätze vorhanden)
Weitere Termine auf Anfrage möglich (TEL 0170/2787200) bzw. werden noch bekanntgegeben
www.DDR-Spielzeug.com www.facebook.de/ddrspielzeug
Alle Termine unter Vorbehalt und Beachtung der aktuellen Corona Situation- Wir bitten um Ihr Verständnis (zur Zeit gibt es keine Einschränkungen)
Wir suchen für neue Projekte alles rund ums DDR Spielzeug.
Wer hat noch Fotos von Spielzeugläden, Kindergartenzeit, Hort Schule usw.
Was war oder ist dein DDR Lieblingsspielzeug? Wir suchen Deine DDR Spielzeuggeschichte(n).
Bitte melden!
Flyer Download
Wir suchen für neue Projekte alles rund ums DDR Spielzeug
Wer hat noch Fotos von Spielzeugläden Kindergartenzeit Hort usw.? bitte melden!
Was war oder ist Dein DDR Lieblingsspielzeug? - Wir suchen deine DDR Spielzeuggeschichte(n).
Made in GDR - 40 Years DDR Toy Story (s)
GDR toys like to travel in museums all over the world. The collection has "grown" since the last 3 decades - which means, it consists not only of GDR-toys but for example their packaging, information, advertising, catalogues, basically everything with regards to them. You have got a museum? Would you like to exhibit our Toys and Co.? then please get in touch via our contact form! We have got plenty of exhibition experience over the last 15 years as our collection was and is shown regularly in a variety of museums all over Germany! Our collection consists of toys ranging from A in aeroplane via steam machines, boats, doll houses, educational toys, small toys, tin toys, bulldozers, cars, building sets, games and many more but basically the complete toy range for the whole family...
We also have the wish and the intend to exhibit our toys - which tells part of the German history - industrial history - permanently! Would you like to support us? We are working on the concept. Have you got ideas? - Please get in touch! We welcome suggestions and information!
Current exhibitions can be found under: Dates & News
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- Press Archiv
- Youtube Video
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Freie Presse
Alle Rechte an den Artikeln sind den jeweiligen Zeitschriften oder Medienvertretern zugeschrieben.
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Sächsische Zeitung
Alle Rechte an den Artikeln sind den jeweiligen Zeitschriften oder Medienvertretern zugeschrieben.
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Dresdner Neuste Nachrichten
Alle Rechte an den Artikeln sind den jeweiligen Zeitschriften oder Medienvertretern zugeschrieben.
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Wochenkurier
Alle Rechte an den Artikeln sind den jeweiligen Zeitschriften oder Medienvertretern zugeschrieben.
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DDR-Spielzeug erzählt Geschichte(n)
Die Weihnachtsausstellung im Pirnaer Stadtmuseum unternimmt einen Ausflug in den DDR-Alltag. Gezeigt wird ein Querschnitt aus 40 Jahren Spielzeuggeschichte. Der Freitaler Eric Palitzsch sammelt mit Leidenschaft alles, was von 1949 bis 1989 für die Kinderzimmer im Osten produziert wurde. Zusätzlich hat das Museum ein Forschungsprojekt mit Pirnaer Schülern gestartet. Sie sammelten die ganz persönlichen Geschichten über das DDR-Spielzeug ihrer Eltern. Video Copyright by Pirna TV Lokalfernsehen
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DDR Kult Räuchermäcki
DDR Scherzartikel Magische Zigarette klick und staun ;-)
Light a magic cigarette and Smoky (Mäcki) smokes it
Made in GDR
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DDR Spielzeug Rummel
Hallo wieder gibt es eine kleine Zeitreise heute besucht DDR Spielzeug den Rummel in Dresden
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DDR Spielzeug Bunte Knete
Hallo liebe Fans DDR Spielzeug hat mal schnell geknetet guckst du hier ;-)
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Der Polizeiwartburg DDR Spielzeug
Aus alt mach neu der Wartburg 353 in der Wagenwäsche
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Tipp Kick DDR Spielzeug
Das Endspiel wir sind noch im Fußballfieber! DS M DDR Spielzeug Meisterschaft 2012
Ja wie durch ein Zufall spielt hier rot gegen Blau ;-)
Und es versteckt sich auch unser EM Tipp guckst du! viel Spaß es wird spannend
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DDR Spielzeug Fritz der Traktorist
Kennst du ihn noch den Fritz bzw seinen Traktor ? ;-) hier geht's mit DDR Spielzeug auf kleine Zeitreise in die 1970er Jahre
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der DDR Spielzeug Kasper bekommt ein Westpaket
Der DDR Spielzeug Kasper bekommt Post, ein Westpaket ;-) aber doch ausn Osten ? Aber was ist drin?
Imprint
Eric Palitzsch
Fichtenstraße 11
01734 Rabenau
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)351 / 6442747
Email: info@ddr-spielzeug.com