Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg by DiD

DiD will be releasing a 1/6 scale 12-inch version of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, one of the key plotters of an assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler during World War II. The plot was carried out on July 20, 1944 and the group had planned to use the "Operation Valkyrie" national emergency plan to take control of the country upon the successful assassination of Hitler.

In the film "Valkyrie (2008)", Tom Cruise played the role of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, the Wehrmacht Colonel who was instrumental in the conspiracy to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

DiD will be releasing the film version with Tom Cruise's likeness.

DiD is quite spot on with the attire and accessories, including briefcase and plastic explosive with detonator and crimper.

German Officer's peaked cap.

Stauffenberg's vehicle was strafed on 7 April, 1943 by British fighter-bombers and he was severely wounded. He spent three months in hospital in Munich after losing his left eye, his right hand and 2 fingers on his left hand. He jokingly remarked to friends never to have really known what to do with so many fingers when he still had all of them. For his injuries, Stauffenberg was awarded the Wound Badge in Gold on 14 April, 1943 and for his courage the German Cross in Gold on 8 May, 1943. The heavily decorated six-foot-three Stauffenberg had become a legendary soldier in the Berlin command. While he settled into his new assignments, he also quickly achieved political control of the disheartened conspirators.

German Officer's boots


A specially designed crimper was made for Stauffenberg due to his injuries and lack of fingers. Stauffenberg did not let his injuries prevent him from his duties. On July 20, 1944, von Stauffenberg and his adjutant Lieutenant Haeften returned to the Wolf's Lair and detonated the bomb in his briefcase while Hitler is having a conference with his planners.

The yellow card was used to identify fellow German Resistance members once Operation Valkyrie was activated

I'd thought of kitbashing a Tom Cruise as Wehrmacht Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg but this is even better!



FULL review of actual product - DiD Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg figure HERE

4 comments:

alex teo said...

Comment received. Thought it'll be nice to share it:

Hi Alex,

I am a regular visitor to your blog and I love reading your reviews on numerous 12inch figures you obtained.

I just started collecting 1/6 figures and am pretty careful with what I purchase because of the high cost.

I just saw your review on the Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg figure by DiD and am pretty interested in getting one.

Do you think its a worthwhile figure to get? I have mostly MMS figures by hot toys and have not ventured into the military figures but this one caught my eye.

Hope you can take some time to guide a fellow collector.

Your views will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and regards,
Mark

alex teo said...

Hi Mark

Thanks for the compliments and for writing.
Congrats on your venture into the 1/6 world. I don't think you'll regret it.

Hot Toys MMS figures are a MUST have and so far they have been
consistent with their quality. My advise is always to enjoy what you
collect and my own rule is how fast I'm going to open the box and take
out the figure. That determines how much I really want that particular
figure. I've given some of Hot Toys MMS figures a miss lately because
there are just too many figures they are putting out and I can't
possibly have all of them. You don't have to be a completist and get
everything unless that's what pleases you, plus you have the funds for
it.

IMHO Two companies are putting up very nice military figures, so much
so that Hot Toys seem to be laying off military figures because these
two companies are giving them a run for their money. They are DiD and
Soldier Story. Their figures and accessories are top notch and DiD's
Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg figure is one such figure. I'm
definitely adding this to my collection.

You have to ask yourself if this figure fits into your scheme of
things i.e. when you display him with the other MMS figures, will he
fit in or stand out like a sore thumb. He IS movie-related since Tom
Cruise played him in "Valkyrie" but is he the only military figure you
have? Will he feel lonely or be in good company (Me thinks we can
expect Brad Pitt from "Inglorious Basterds" soon)? Most importantly,
what satisfaction will you get out of this figure?

Just my two cents worth :)

alex teo said...

Mark's reply:
Hi Alex,

Thank you for the wonderful and detailed insight to collecting.

I am glad I asked you for your opinion because you actually provided another angle for me to look at with regards to this fantastic hobby.

Glad to say that after thinking through (to be honest, i took less than 3 minutes), I WILL be getting the figure haha.

What helped was the fact that when i first saw the picture, there was this voice in my head which constantly screamed "BUY IT! BUY IT".

Can't wait for its official release! =)

Keep putting up fantastic pictures of your collection! Loving it!

Thanks and regards,
Mark

alex teo said...

Hi Mark

Glad I could help :)

Good decision BTW. I'm also eagerly waiting for mine to arrive.

Thanks for the compliments
CHEERS!