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Bundeswehr Goes Cutesy

DW staff (win)July 20, 2004

Cute isn't necessarily a word that comes to mind when thinking about Germany's military -- or any, for that matter. But the people running the Bundeswehr's clothing branch seem set on changing that.

I'm Nelson and I work on a ship

It might become the next toy craze among German children: teddy-bears in military uniforms. That's at least what the people at LHD, a subsidiary of a Bundeswehr sub-contractor, must be hoping.

They've taken your run-of-the-mill toy bears and dressed them in combat gear. Take Flecki (Spotty) who wears camouflage, or Nelson who serves in the navy. Tom looks the part of an air force officer; and while the real German soldiers didn't go to Iraq, Lawrence is ready for a desert mission in the tan camouflage look.

Flecki, Nelson, Tom and Lawrence
The bears go for €12.50 ($15.50), €2.50 of which are donated to a charity fund for military families in need. The kids seem to be liking the soldier bears and the bear creators hope to collect €20,000 for the charity by the end of the year.
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