This album will show my collection of Steffi dolls from the former East Germany. I will later write a little more about her.She was made by Walthershausen.
 Here is some information about how Steffi came to be in GDR, it is written by Martina Mahler in Jena and I hope it's okay to share it, I have had this information for years but think it should be public known and I translated it into English:  "Barbie" in the GDR

Really secured information about production and sale of Barbie-like dolls in East Germany are hard to co y. my details  are based on the one hand on publications and on the other hand on information provided by many people  former point of sale manager in HO toy stores, also  I have my own experiences from my work as a decorator in retail.

In 1966 the production of the Steffi doll started in Waltershausen. she  had barbie dimensions, wonderful thick hair and legs that could not be bent. Their clothes were interchangeable and very typical of the GDR.  How long it was in production is unknown. As far as I know it was in the trade  after not available, at most in the Berlin area or as "Bückdichware". (translates to crooked ware)

But the desire for such a doll was of course also with the children  of the GDR available. When a few GDR citizens were allowed to travel to the West,  some Barbie dolls or cheaper imitations (Petra, Hong-Kong  Dolls or similar) brought to the GDR. Now inventiveness was required: the  Clothing has been changed from commercial dolls to fit Barbie, many things  self-sewn or embroidered and crocheted. Skillful fingers of parents  worked from Barbie brochures or from their own imagination furniture and  other accessories. Gradually, correct ones also emerged in the GDR  barbie worlds.  In the 1970s, a larger doll (40 cm tall) was made in Waltershausen,  produced with a made-up doll face and full breasts (not stuffed!).  and often dressed in uniform. These were small editions; on  many parts of the clothing were hand-sewn. Even these dolls hardly came in  the trade - often they were considered on special occasions  Presentation gifts to men (!!!) presented. change of clothes  made, but was also hard to come by.

Her vil jeg vise Steffi fra det tidligere DDR. Jeg vil senere skrive lidt mere om hende. "Barbie" i DDR

Virkelig sikret information om produktion og salg af  Barbie-lignende dukker i Østtyskland er svære at få fat i. mine detaljer  er baseret på den ene side på publikationer og på den anden side på information fra mange mennesker tidligere salgsstedschef i HO legetøjsbutikker

Jeg har også mine egne erfaringer fra mit arbejde som dekoratør i detailhandlen.

I 1966 startede produktionen af ​​Steffi-dukken i Waltershausen. hun  havde barbiemål, skønt tykt hår og ben, der ikke kunne bøjes. Deres tøj var udskifteligt og meget typisk for DDR.  Hvor længe den har været i produktion vides ikke. Så vidt jeg ved var det i handlen her efter ikke tilgængelig, højst i Berlin-området eller som "Bückdichware".

Men ønsket om sådan en dukke var selvfølgelig også hos børnene  af DDR til rådighed. Da nogle få DDR-borgere fik lov til at rejse til Vesten, nogle Barbie-dukker eller billigere efterligninger (Petra, Hong-Kong  dukker eller lignende) bragt til DDR. Nu krævedes opfindsomhed:  Tøjet er blevet ændret fra kommercielle dukker til at passe til Barbie, mange ting  selvsyet eller broderet og hæklet. Dygtige fingre af forældre  arbejdet ud fra Barbie-brochurer eller fra deres egne fantasimøbler og  andet tilbehør. Efterhånden dukkede der også rigtige op i DDR  barbie verdener.  I 1970'erne blev der lavet en større dukke (40 cm høj) i Waltershausen,  produceret med et sminket dukkeansigt og fyldige bryster (ikke udstoppede!)  og ofte klædt i uniform. Det var små oplag; på  mange dele af tøjet var håndsyet. Selv disse dukker kom næsten ikke ind i  handlen - ofte blev de overvejende givet ved særlige lejligheder som p æsentationsgaver til mænd (!!!). skiftetøj blev  lavet, men var også svært at få fat i.