Original German Weimar Period “Roter Kampfwagen” Armored Fighting Vehicle Toy Steel Model with 1934 Dated Plaque Added Later – A.A.F. Tank Museum Original Items

Original Item: One Of a Kind. World War I was really the beginning for tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, and there were a multitude of different designs fielded even during the later years of the war. This evolution continued during the Interwar Period, and even Germany, held under somewhat strict control due to the Treaty of Versailles, continued development of these. What we have here is a steel toy model, based on these vehicles, some of which were utilized by police and other forces.

The model tank came to us from the American Armoured Foundation, Inc. Tank and Ordnance Memorial Museum. The AAF Tank Museum was a living memorial dedicated to the Tank and Cavalry soldiers of the world. Before 1981 some of the artifacts that make up the AAF Tank Museum was a private collection belonging to Mr. William Gasser. Mr. Gasser felt that his collection would be beneficial in educating present and future generations to the sacrifices made and the technologies gained during war. Therefore, in 1981 the AAF Tank Museum was established as a non-profit charitable organization, and Mr. Gasser’s donated his private collection to the Tank Museum. Mr. Gasser is still active as Volunteer, Director, and Curator of the Tank Museum and his knowledge of military history has been a great asset to the museum. Unfortunately after 20 years of operation it had to close its doors, which is when this model tank was acquired.

We have not been able to locate exactly which design the model is based on, and it has aspects of several different designs, which were somewhat similar to begin with. Most of the designs that we see using this shape were tracked vehicles, however the large cabin means that it would not really have the room on the sides for tracks. Definitely an interesting Weimar period custom made toy.

There is a brass plaque on the left side that clearly reads:

Roter Kampfwagen
1.Batterie
RA-11
1934

We presume this refers to the 1st Battery, 11th Reichsheer Artillery, however the “Roter Kampfwagen” would translate to “Red Battle Vehicle”, which is definitely a bit confusing. The model toy weighs a substantial 21lbs, and still rolls well, with the top turret being a bit loosely attached. It measures approximately 21″L × 12″H × 7 /2″W, and as far as we can tell is of all steel construction. The exterior shows one or two layers of paint, and the plaque on the side was either covered or replaced at some point, as it definitely looks to be quite a bit younger than the model itself.

Comes more than ready for further research and display.

The Weimar Republic (German: Weimarer Republik), officially the German Reich (Deutsches Reich), also referred to as the German People’s State (Deutscher Volksstaat) or simply the German Republic (Deutsche Republik), was the German state from 1918 to 1933. As a term, it is an unofficial historical designation that derives its name from the city of Weimar, where its constitutional assembly first took place. The official name of the republic remained the German Reich as it had been during the German Empire because of the German tradition of substates.

Although commonly translated as “German Empire,” Reich here better translates as “realm” in that the term does not necessarily have monarchical connotations in itself. The Reich was changed from a constitutional monarchy into a republic. In English, the country was usually known simply as Germany, and the Weimar Republic name became mainstream only in the 1930s.

The Reichswehr (English: Realm Defense) formed the military organization of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was united with the new Wehrmacht (Defense Force). At the end of World War I, the forces of the German Empire were disbanded, the men returning home individually or in small groups. Many of them joined the Freikorps (Free Corps), a collection of volunteer paramilitary units that were involved in suppressing the German Revolution and border clashes between 1918 and 1923.

The Reichswehr was limited to a standing army of 100,000 men, and a navy of 15,000. The establishment of a general staff was prohibited. Heavy weapons such as artillery above the caliber of 105 mm (for naval guns, above 205 mm), armored vehicles, submarines and capital ships were forbidden, as were aircraft of any kind. Compliance with these restrictions was monitored until 1927 by the Military Inter-Allied Commission of Control.

The Reichsheer was the Army Division of the Reichswehr.