KING AND COUNTRY WS063
Overview
Intro
History Section
Collector Notes
The WS063 “The Defenders” set by King & Country delivers a compelling quartet of German defenders as part of the Fall of Berlin / Waffen‑SS collection. Released in March 2005 and retired in December 2007, this factory‑painted set comprises four lead‑tin alloy 1:30 scale figures standing approximately 7cm tall on oval profiled bases (sagerssoldiers.com). Collector‑oriented and articulated via exceptional sculpting, the set pairs two Waffen‑SS troopers and two Volksgrenadiers, each posed in dynamic defensive action with authentic WWII equipment (sagerssoldiers.com).
Historical Background
The figures in WS063 depict German infantry during the final battle for Berlin in April–May 1945, a pivotal clash marking the end of the European war in World War II. Opposing forces comprised the encroaching Soviet Red Army, which pressed into the city’s streets, and the nominal defenders: a mix of Waffen‑SS units and hastily raised Volksgrenadier formations. Historical sources note that Waffen‑SS soldiers, often better equipped and trained, held strategic positions, while Volksgrenadiers—drawn from later war conscripts—manned defensive lines with limited resources. The set’s motifs reflect this dual nature: one Waffen‑SS trooper clutches a captured Russian submachine gun—likely a PPSh‑41—underscoring battlefield improvisation; the fellow SS soldier scans his rear, suggesting concern over Soviet encirclement.
Meanwhile, a Volksgrenadier prepares to throw a “potato‑masher” Stielhandgranate, while his comrade lines up a precise shot, perhaps emulating the use of K98k sniper training. Such visuals align with documented street‑to‑street combat, in which improvised panzerfaust teams, grenadiers and snipers desperately delayed Soviet advances, often amid collapsing command cohesion. These portrayals are consistent with actual German gear and WWII urban defensive tactics in Berlin’s final days, highlighting a grim mixture of determined defense and desperation in early May 1945. The battle concluded with the city’s fall on May 2, 1945, resulting in Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender on May 8.
Overall, the figures evoke the chaotic last stand of Germany’s forces, blending training, capture, and improvisation—a historically accurate microcosm of Berlin’s defense.
Collector Notes
Collector identification begins with WS063 stamped or marked on original packaging or pedestal. The set’s kit includes two Waffen‑SS and two Volksgrenadier figures, each holding identifiable weapons: Kar98k, captured PPSh, Sturmgewehr 44, Stielhandgranate (lastdodo.com). The oval profiled bases retain the set title; repaints are common, so verify factory paint finish matching King & Country’s crisp, subtle shading. Common defects include bent grenades or chipped tips on rifles, particularly the replica PPSh and Stielhandgranate. Packaging in mint condition—sealed box with insert—can elevate market value. Though retired, secondary‑market prices range around USD 90 on specialist retailers (sagerssoldiers.com); auction or consignment listings occasionally reach USD 120–160 depending on condition (treefrogtreasures.com). Matching original hand‑painted labels and intact paint on weapons yields the greatest premium.
Collectors value original factory paint, solid metal casting with details like insignia and facial expression, and the historical balancing of SS versus Volksgrenadier representation.
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King & Country WS063 “The Defenders” Collector Review
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