In the late 19th century it was Gebruder that introduced the plush bear in its 1894 catalog and then Steiff that started to crank them out in 1897. In the US the "Teddy" bear came from President Teddy Roosevelt and his bear hunt story and the name was subsequently associated with all plush bears in the world even though Steiff already manufactured the type. Steiff are the ones that got them into production first and it was not uncommon to find Steiffi bears with German and Allied soldiers alike. A Steiff bear also saved a German woman and daughter from Russian rape when the little girl offered her bear to the Red soldiers who were intent on raping the mother. They took the bear instead and left, sparing mother and daughter. And if anyone wants to know the real origins of the Icee and Coke polar bears they also come from Germay during WW2 with the Fanta promotional Polar Bear costume (also provided by Steiff) for Eiskalt (Ice Cold) Fanta. There are photos of the Steiff bear suit in Germany and at the front with German soldiers (not to be confused with any mockery of the Russian bear).