Scholz' Künstlerische Soldatenbogen - Wehrmacht Serie

 Hello,

Today I would like to present some new research findings.

I am currently working on, among other things, a catalog of the printed sheets produced by Joseph (Josef) Scholz of Mainz. While doing so, I came across an interesting order list in the holdings of the Mainz City Library.

Since it will likely be quite some time before I publish the complete catalog, I would like to offer a brief glimpse into the "Wehrmacht Series" here.

In his book *Paper Empires*, Rafael de Francisco López published a list of Scholz sheets from the Wehrmacht series that did not align with the information I had gathered on the subject.

Here is the list from *Paper Empires*:

No. 37 – Deutsche Reichsmarine

No. 40 – Feuernde Artillerie

No. 42 – Vorbeimarsch einer Traditionsfahnenkompanie

No. 43 – Vorbeimarsch einer Infanterie-Kompanie

No. 44 – Auf dem Exerzierplatz

No. 45 – Rekrutenvereidigung

No. 46 – Panzerwagen

No. 47 – Motorisierte Aufklärungsabteilung

No. 48 – Flak-Artillerie (Geschütz in Feuerstellung) 

I had previously noticed that some of these sheets also exist with different titles—sometimes featuring identical figures in different arrangements, yet bearing the same numbers from this list!

The discovered order lists confirm that Scholz apparently reused some of the numbers repeatedly.

Since these lists also indicate which numbers and designations were newly introduced to the product range in 1939 and 1940, I would like to present them here in their original form.

The 1939 list shows five sheets as new issues; three of them (Nos. 38, 44, and 45) presumably bear numbers that had already been assigned previously.

The 1940s list brings us three more new items. These sheets, too, were not filed after the existing No. 50, but rather before the sheets already listed. This means that these three numbers (Nos. 35 to 37) had also been existed previously.

The 1941 list shows the sheets from the previous year, without any additions. I assume that no new plates were published after that point.

Unfortunately, these lists remain silent on who drew these figures.

But who wouldn't like to order 100 of these plates for 9 Reichsmarks today? 😁

To summarize, here is an overview of what I know so far about the Scholz sheets from the Wehrmacht series.

Nr.35 Infanterie auf dem Vormarsch (new 1940, listed 1940, 41)

Nr.36 Infanterie im Angriff (new 1940, listed 1940, 41)

Nr.37 Deutsche Reichsmarine

Nr.37 M.G.-Schützen und Infanteriegeschütz (new 1940, listed 1940, 41)

Nr.38 Fallschirmjäger (new 1939, listed 1939-41)

Nr.39 Kavallerie (listed 1939-41)

Nr.40 Feuernde Artillerie (listed 1939-41)

Nr.41 Luftwaffe (listed 1939-41)

Nr.42 Vorbeimarsch einer Infanterie-Kompanie mit Musik

Nr.42 Vorbeimarsch einer Traditionsfahnenkompanie (listed 1939-41)

Nr.43 Vorbeimarsch einer Infanterie-Kompanie (listed 1939-41)

Nr.44 Auf dem Exerzierplatz

Nr.44 Panzerabwehrabteilung in Feuerstellung (new 1939, listed 1939-41)

Nr.45 Rekrutenvereidigung

Nr.45 Schwere Artillerie in Feuerstellung (new 1939, listed 1939-41)

Nr.46 Panzerwagen (Tanks) (listed 1939-41)

Nr.47 Motorisierte Aufklärungsabteilung (listed 1939-41)

Nr.48 Flak-Artillerie (Geschütz in Feuerstellung) (listed 1939-41)

Nr.49 Pioniere (new 1939, listed 1939-41)

Nr.50 Gebirgsjäger (new 1939, listed 1939-41)

If anyone has further information (or would like to sell me 100 Scholz sheets - or less of it 😄 ), I would appreciate it if they got in touch with me.

Best regards,

Andreas

Deutsches Heer - Gebirgsjäger, Scholz' Künstlerische Soldatenbögen Nr.50

 Hello,

I haven't shown anything at all from the German Reichswehr or the Wehrmacht this month yet! That is why, today, I have selected this beautiful print sheet by Josef Scholz for you. 

It bears the number 50 and depicts soldiers of the German Mountain Troops. Given the absence of the Edelweiss sleeve and cap badges, these figures were almost certainly drawn before the end of 1939. In addition to the soldiers—shown in combat and mountaineering poses—the sheet also includes three pack animals. These appear to be two mules and a Haflinger. Both types of pack animals are still utilized today by the Bundeswehr's Mountain Troops, as they are capable of transporting supplies across terrain where any vehicle would fail.

Best regards,

Andreas

bei Joseph Scholz in Mainz No.55 - Preussische Armee 1.Garde-Regiment

Hello,

today I'm showing you a very old print from the Scholz publishing house.

These sheets, signed "by Joseph Scholz in Mainz," likely represent Scholz's first series of soldier prints and date from the late 1830s and 1840s.

Surprisingly, all early Scholz sheets with Prussian motifs are more or less incorrectly colored. This is particularly noticeable here due to the dark green (instead of dark blue) uniforms. Perhaps they were attempting to depict Russian uniforms? Maybe these prints were originally only in black and white and were colored later. Or were these sheets even produced in different colors? Unfortunately, they are too rare, and I haven't seen enough to make any definitive statements. But it's certainly striking and a curiosity.

The paper used for these prints is very thin. The figures measure approximately 13 cm from toes to forehead.

Best regards, 

Andreas

Reichswehr Kavallerie, Scholz' Künstlerische Soldatenbogen 27K - pt.2

Hello,

Today I'm showing you the figures from Scholz sheet 27K again, only this time cut out and assembled. This was my first find in 2025, and I was very happy about it. This is actually the only set I own both as a complete printed sheet version and completely cut out.

Unfortunately, the figures needed a lot of love to get them back on their feet. They must have been stored in damp conditions at some point—thank goodness they didn't start to mold! The bases were made of pressed cardboard and had become unusable. The figures themselves were a bit wavy. So I removed the old bases and pressed the figures for a while to make them flat again. Most of them never had any back reinforcement, and the ones that did have it at some point had come loose. So I gave the figures a layer of thin cardboard and glued on new wooden bases. I hope they're in good shape now to last for the next hundred years.

The officer in the front, at 11cm tall (8cm figure size), is actually slightly larger than the other 8 figures (10cm / figure size 7cm), which is further emphasized by the rider's different perspective.

I hope you like them as much as I do.

Best regards,

Andreas

Reichswehr Kavallerie, Scholz' Künstlerische Soldatenbogen 27K - pt.1

Hello,

Today I'm showing you another sheet from Josef Scholz in Mainz. This time, number 27K, and it shows nine cavalrymen of the German Reichswehr in their uniforms from 1921 to 1934. 

Since the soldiers are wearing white and light blue lance pennants, I can even narrow down the regiment. They must be riders of the 17th (Bavarian) Cavalry Regiment. For me as a Bavarian, that's certainly something special - but the sheet is still in the original sales block, and that's a real stroke of luck for me. That's the only block of this type I've ever seen, so I absolutely had to have it. I'll present the block separately someday. The sheet presented here is even included three times!

More on this topic tomorrow... 😉

Sincerely,

Andreas

Schweizerische Infanterie, Scholz' Künstlerische Soldatenbogen 21K

Hello,

Today I'm showing you sheet 21K of the "Künstlerische Soldatenbögen" (Artistic Soldier Sheets) by Josef Scholz. It shows Swiss infantry in the uniforms from 1935/36. The figures are exceptionally large, with a height of 12.5cm to 14cm.

Unfortunately, this beautiful collector's item always makes me a little sad when I look at it. The sheet had survived well for 80 years - then the German post got hold of it. Although it was packaged pretty well, it arrived crumpled and damaged. It's a real shame! But what can you do? These pieces don't grow back and that's why it's important to preserve it, even if it was damaged completely unnecessarily.

Best wishes,

Andreas