In box Review of Verlinden 1/35th Scale German S.S. Officer
Kit no. 497
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: At least 20 years ago.
Out of production
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: At least 20 years ago.
Out of production
HISTORY:
The Schutzstaffel (SS; also stylised as ᛋᛋ with Armanen runes; 'Protection Squadron') was a major paramilitary organisation under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany, and later throughout German-occupied Europe during World War II.
It began with a small guard unit known as the Saal-Schutz ("Hall Security") made up of party volunteers to provide security for party meetings in Munich. In 1925, Heinrich Himmler joined the unit, which had by then been reformed and given its final name. Under his direction (1929–1945) it grew from a small paramilitary formation during the Weimar Republic to one of the most powerful organisations in Nazi Germany.
From the time of the Nazi Party's rise to power until the regime's collapse in 1945, the SS was the foremost agency of security, mass surveillance, and state terrorism within Germany and German-occupied Europe.
The two main constituent groups were the Allgemeine SS (General SS) and Waffen-SS (Armed SS). The Allgemeine SS was responsible for enforcing the racial policy of Nazi Germany and general policing, whereas the Waffen-SS consisted of the combat units of the SS, with a sworn allegiance to Hitler. A third component of the SS, the SS-Totenkopfverbände (SS-TV; "Death's Head Units", ran the concentration camps and extermination camps.
Additional subdivisions of the SS included the Gestapo and the Sicherheitsdienst (SD) organisations.
They were tasked with the detection of actual or potential enemies of the Nazi state, the neutralisation of any opposition, policing the German people for their commitment to Nazi ideology, and providing domestic and foreign intelligence.
The SS was the organisation most responsible for the genocidal murder of an estimated 5.5 to 6 million Jews and millions of other victims during the Holocaust. Members of all of its branches committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during World War II (1939–45). The SS was also involved in commercial enterprises and exploited concentration camp inmates as slave labour.
After Nazi Germany's defeat, the SS and the Nazi Party were judged by the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg to be criminal organisations. Ernst Kaltenbrunner, the highest-ranking surviving SS main department chief, was found guilty of crimes against humanity at the Nuremberg trials and hanged in 1946.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Formed: 4 April 1925
Preceding agencies: Sturmabteilung (SA),Stabswache
Dissolved: 8 May 1945
Type: Paramilitary
Jurisdiction: Nazi Germany and German-occupied Europe
Headquarters: Prinz-Albrecht-Straße, Berlin
Employees 800,000 (c. 1944)
Reichsführer responsible: Heinrich Himmler (longest serving), Julius Schreck (first), Karl Hanke (last)
Parent agency: Nazi Party, Sturmabteilung (until July 1934), Child agencies, Waffen-SS, SS-Totenkopfverbände (SS-TV), Sicherheitspolizei (SiPo; until 1939, when folded into the RSHA), Sicherheitsdienst (SD), Ordnungspolizei (Orpo)
The Schutzstaffel (SS; also stylised as ᛋᛋ with Armanen runes; 'Protection Squadron') was a major paramilitary organisation under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany, and later throughout German-occupied Europe during World War II.
It began with a small guard unit known as the Saal-Schutz ("Hall Security") made up of party volunteers to provide security for party meetings in Munich. In 1925, Heinrich Himmler joined the unit, which had by then been reformed and given its final name. Under his direction (1929–1945) it grew from a small paramilitary formation during the Weimar Republic to one of the most powerful organisations in Nazi Germany.
From the time of the Nazi Party's rise to power until the regime's collapse in 1945, the SS was the foremost agency of security, mass surveillance, and state terrorism within Germany and German-occupied Europe.
The two main constituent groups were the Allgemeine SS (General SS) and Waffen-SS (Armed SS). The Allgemeine SS was responsible for enforcing the racial policy of Nazi Germany and general policing, whereas the Waffen-SS consisted of the combat units of the SS, with a sworn allegiance to Hitler. A third component of the SS, the SS-Totenkopfverbände (SS-TV; "Death's Head Units", ran the concentration camps and extermination camps.
Additional subdivisions of the SS included the Gestapo and the Sicherheitsdienst (SD) organisations.
They were tasked with the detection of actual or potential enemies of the Nazi state, the neutralisation of any opposition, policing the German people for their commitment to Nazi ideology, and providing domestic and foreign intelligence.
The SS was the organisation most responsible for the genocidal murder of an estimated 5.5 to 6 million Jews and millions of other victims during the Holocaust. Members of all of its branches committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during World War II (1939–45). The SS was also involved in commercial enterprises and exploited concentration camp inmates as slave labour.
After Nazi Germany's defeat, the SS and the Nazi Party were judged by the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg to be criminal organisations. Ernst Kaltenbrunner, the highest-ranking surviving SS main department chief, was found guilty of crimes against humanity at the Nuremberg trials and hanged in 1946.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Formed: 4 April 1925
Preceding agencies: Sturmabteilung (SA),Stabswache
Dissolved: 8 May 1945
Type: Paramilitary
Jurisdiction: Nazi Germany and German-occupied Europe
Headquarters: Prinz-Albrecht-Straße, Berlin
Employees 800,000 (c. 1944)
Reichsführer responsible: Heinrich Himmler (longest serving), Julius Schreck (first), Karl Hanke (last)
Parent agency: Nazi Party, Sturmabteilung (until July 1934), Child agencies, Waffen-SS, SS-Totenkopfverbände (SS-TV), Sicherheitspolizei (SiPo; until 1939, when folded into the RSHA), Sicherheitsdienst (SD), Ordnungspolizei (Orpo)
About Verlinden Productions:
Verlinden Productions is the epitome of aftermarket military kits and resin figures which brought thousands of military miniatures and related products to the market. The company is the brainchild of Belgian modeler Francois Verlinden, a Belgium-born entrepreneur, author of many books, photographer and military miniature artist who founded Verlinden Productions in the early 1980s.
Verlinden Productions is the granddaddy of the aftermarket parts and resin figure manufacturers. Verlinden has influenced legions of modelers, and will forever be one of the most significant figures in 1/35 scale modeling. Verlinden's outstanding eye for detail and superior quality puts him in the top echelon of his craft. The resin quality is considered as one of the best in the world.
Verlinden Productions is the epitome of aftermarket military kits and resin figures which brought thousands of military miniatures and related products to the market. The company is the brainchild of Belgian modeler Francois Verlinden, a Belgium-born entrepreneur, author of many books, photographer and military miniature artist who founded Verlinden Productions in the early 1980s.
Verlinden Productions is the granddaddy of the aftermarket parts and resin figure manufacturers. Verlinden has influenced legions of modelers, and will forever be one of the most significant figures in 1/35 scale modeling. Verlinden's outstanding eye for detail and superior quality puts him in the top echelon of his craft. The resin quality is considered as one of the best in the world.
THE KIT:
The model is in a camouflaged end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box because, invariably parts or the decal sheet (there is no sheet in the box) will find their way past one of the end-flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The lid has a color photo of the figure made up. He wears a field-grey uniform, officer’s billed hat, jodhpur trousers, bloused into black jack-boots.
The kit contains 6 tan resin parts. The figure is divided into separate head, torso, arms and legs. There are pour lugs on the parts that need to be removed.
The model is in a camouflaged end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box because, invariably parts or the decal sheet (there is no sheet in the box) will find their way past one of the end-flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The lid has a color photo of the figure made up. He wears a field-grey uniform, officer’s billed hat, jodhpur trousers, bloused into black jack-boots.
The kit contains 6 tan resin parts. The figure is divided into separate head, torso, arms and legs. There are pour lugs on the parts that need to be removed.
Detail is excellent.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.