Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery

Hasbro released three American generals from the Second World War as part of its GI Joe Historical Commanders Edition (see previous post) but let's not forget the role played by "Monty". Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery or simply "Monty", was an Anglo-Irish British Army officer who successfully commanded Allied forces at the Battle of El Alamein, a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign during World War II, and troops under his command played a major role in the expulsion of Axis forces from North Africa. He was later a prominent commander in Italy and North-West Europe, where he was in command of all Allied ground forces during Operation Overlord until after the Battle of Normandy.

Did produced and released a 1/6 scale 12-inch version of Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery recently. It included SLOUCH HAT or BUSH HAT with 13 METAL CAP BADGES, Black beret with two cap badges, WW2 British Officer Infantry FIELD MARSHAL's uniform with METAL buttons, badges and Officer's pips, Officer's Field Marshal rank, REAL FABRIC Officer's peaked cap with chin strap, khaki shirt, tie, trousers, Sam Browne belt with metal fasteners and Officer's sword, British battledress tunic/jacket (with rank on lapels and shoulder boards and infantry badge on sleeve) and trousers, shoes with laces and eyelets






I could not mention the three American generals and not Monty as he was part of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (abbreviated as SHAEF, pronounced "shafe" NOT "shaft") which was the headquarters of the Commander of Allied forces in north west Europe, from late 1943 until the end of World War II. Its Supreme Allied Commander was General Dwight David Eisenhower with Ground Forces Commanders: Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery (21st Army Group), Lieutenant General Omar N. Bradley (12th Army Group) and Lieutenant General Jacob L. Devers (6th Army Group).

"Generals, Fall IN!"

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to tell generals to 'fall in' ('fall in' meaning: To take one's place in a military formation i.e. to fall in-to formation)? Usually we all have to 'fall in' for them, unless you have 1/6 scale 12-inch versions of these generals, then you can make them 'fall in' for you :)

From left to right: GI Joe Historical Commanders Edition General Omar N Bradley, General Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower and General George S Patton - all three played a big part in the successful invasion of France and Germany in Europe during the Second World War from 1944–45.


GI Joe General Omar Nelson Bradley was covered in an earlier post (link here)

GI Joe General Dwight D Eisenhower (full pictures here)

GI Joe General George S Patton was reviewed here
A much better 1/6 scale version of General Patton (with 4 stars) by Dragon posted here

Eisenhower dealt skillfully with difficult subordinates such as Omar Bradley and Patton, and allies such as Winston Churchill, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and General Charles de Gaulle.

Hot Toys Bio Hazard 5 Albert Wesker Preview

Coming soon to a store near you: Hot Toys VGM08 (Video Game Masterpiece Series) Bio Hazard 5 1/6 scale 12-inch Albert Wesker collectible action figure (Midnight version) with Hot Toys 1/6th scale TrueType body with over 36 points of articulation, signature black outfit in Bio Hazard 5 game consisting of trench coat, zip-up top, pants, boots, and Battery-operated illuminated red eyes (button cell batteries included). Weapons include: Knife, Samurai Edge Handgun, H&K MP5 SMG, Hydra Shotgun, Magnum L Hawk, Magnum S&W M500 and Laser Targeting Device Shango. Accessories include: Shoulder Holster, Smart Phone, Sunglasses, Watch, Two Sets of Interchangeable Hands and 12-inch figure stand with the Bio Hazard 5 logo and Albert Wesker nameplate. Release date: Third Quarter 2009.

That's a lot of weapons

This is the third figure from Hot Toys Biohazard 5 series. The two other figures are Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar (pictures in my earlier post here)

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

GI Joe General Omar Nelson Bradley

Unlike some of the more colorful generals of World War II, General Omar Bradley was a polite and courteous man. Bradley has a reputation today as a general who was very patient with the officers under his command, compared to his most famous colleague, George S Patton (see previous post), but the truth is far more complicated. Bradley sacked more than a dozen generals during the Second World War with little provocation, whereas Patton actually fired only one general during the entire war, Orlando Ward, and only after repeated warnings.

This is the GI Joe 1/6 scale 12-inch Historical Commanders Edition, third in a series and features 3-star General Omar N Bradley, Commander of the US First Army.

In the approach to D-Day, Bradley was chosen to command the substantial US First Army, which alongside the British Second Army made up General Montgomery's 21st Army Group. Bradley undertook detail planning for Omaha Beach at his headquarters at Clifton College, Bristol, England and was on board the USS Augusta during the bombardment on D-Day.

GI Joe 1/6 scale 12-inch General Omar Bradley came with Combat Helmet with 3 Stars, Garrison Cap with 3 Stars, Dog Tags, Uniform Shirt, Tie, Pistol with Holster on Belt, Combat Jacket, Pile-Lined Parka Overcoat, Pants, Combat Boots, Binoculars, Base, US Flag, US Army Flag and 1/1 scale First Army Patch. 

US First Army Patch

General Bradley wearing his Pile-Lined Parka Overcoat over his Combat Jacket

General Omar with his glasses on

General Omar Bradley with his Combat Jacket

Sans glasses

Sans cap

Sans Jacket

M1911A1 .45 automatic pistol in holster

Dragon General George S Patton

Dragon also released a 1/6 scale 12-inch General George S Patton after Hasbro's GI Joe version (pictures here) in 2006. While Hasbro's GI Joe General George Patton had 3 stars (Lieutenant General, Army of the United States: March 12, 1943), Dragon's General George Patton has 4 stars (General, Army of the United States: April 14, 1945) and was supposedly based on him at Bavaria 1945. After the close of World War II, Patton (now a full general) became the occupation commander of Bavaria. As Military Governor of Bavaria, Patton was criticized for leniency towards the Nazis. His view of the war was that with Hitler gone, the German army could be rebuilt into an ally in a potential war against the Russians, whom Patton notoriously despised and considered a greater menace than the Germans. He was removed as governor in October, 1945 and given the command of the US 15th Army.

Dragon's Bavaria Patton came with two rings - USMA (West Point) Graduation ring and his wedding ring

Dragon's head sculpt of General George Patton is much better than Hasbro's 

Dragon's 1/6 scale 12-inch General Patton wears M44 Jacket (also known as "Ike Jacket") over his Officer's Khaki Cotton Shirt and Necktie with US Third Army Shoulder Sleeve insignia, "US" collar patch, Ribbon Bar, Collar Stars and Shoulder Stars

General Patton deliberately cultivated a flashy, distinctive image in the belief that this would motivate his troops. He was usually seen wearing a highly polished helmet, riding pants and high cavalry boots. He carried flashy ivory-handled, nickel-plated revolvers as his most famous sidearms (a Colt Single Action Army .45 "Peacemaker" and later also a S&W Model 27 .357).

Dragon's General Patton wears General 4-star, black chromed M1 helmet

General George S Patton's ribbon rack (consisting of US awards as well as foreign and international awards)

Brown Leather Belt with "US" embossed round belt buckle taken from a Model 1910 Officer's web belt.

General Patton in his Officer's Riding Breeches and Boots, Leather, Lace, Legging Top.

General Patton cuts a fine figure indeed!

Another view of his General stars on his helmet and shoulder, plus ribbons

Dragon's General Patton with Leather Ammo Pouch used as a first aid kit.

Wearing his high cavalry riding boots, nicely done by Dragon

Dragon's General Patton's leather belt has leather cartridge loops OR Belt Slide Loop for his 12 REMOVABLE bullets/cartridges and hand cuff case in which Patton carried a lensmatic compass (not included)

General Patton's Open Top Leather Holster holds his Ivory handled Colt .45 "Peacemaker" in place

General Patton's Colt Single Action .45 caliber Army Revolver Model 1873 with GSP in black enamel carved in the right hand Ivory stock

Carved Eagle on the left hand Ivory stock

Patton took violent offense at any reference to his pistols being pearl handled. He said, "Only a pimp in a New Orleans whorehouse or a tin-horn gambler would carry a pearl-handled pistol." In no uncertain terms he would have the offender know that his revolver was indeed "IVORY-GOD-F**KING-DAMN-HANDLED" and with that he would turn on his heel and leave.

On December 9, 1945, Patton was severely injured in a road accident. Paralyzed from the neck down, he was rushed to the military hospital in Heidelberg. Patton died of an embolism on December 21, 1945.