Manchester United star Bastian Schweinsteiger takes legal action over Nazi toys

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Toymaker DiD Corp, in Hong Kong, has released its 'Bastian' toy figures
The dolls look identical to the Manchester United and Germany midfielder
But he is dressed as a Nazi soldier, complete with swastika eagle uniform
It's believed he has now launched legal proceedings against the company

By Allan Hall and Corey Charlton for MailOnline

Published: 04:37 EST, 22 October 2015 | Updated: 05:36 EST, 22 October 2015

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Manchester United footballer Bastian Schweinsteiger has launched legal proceedings against a toymaker marketing Second World War Nazi soldier dolls named after him and looking like him.

The 'Bastian' range of toy soldiers has a figure looking like the 31-year-old German midfielder - dressed as a Wehrmacht veteran complete with swastika-bearing eagle on his uniform.

Marketing photographs of the Bastian figure show him posing in his uniform, decorated with the Nazi eagle.

The 'Bastian' doll, marketed by DiD Corp in Hong Kong, bears a striking similarity to Manchester United footballer Bastian Schweinsteiger

The Chinese company marketing 'Bastian' said the toy's appearance (right) to the football superstar (left) was 'purely coincidental'

Pictured left is the Bastian toy, wearing a swastika inscribed hat. Right, the Manchester United footballer laughs during a press conference

Others show him accessorised and dressed for winter fighting operations, carrying canteens, a backpack and other items.

In one image, he wears the medal ribbon given to soldiers who took part in the first winter offensive in Russia in 1941.

The Chinese company marketing 'Bastian', named DiD and based in Hong Kong, described his appearance to the football superstar as 'purely coincidental'.

It added: 'The figure is a member of a Wehrmacht supply unit, a so-called "kitchen boy".'

A Dutch firm was contracted to begin selling the figures in Europe for £65 each but that looks doubtful now lawyers for Schweinsteiger are involved.

Records show that Japanese businessman Takuya Umezawa is the director of the firm which also produces James Bond dolls and First World War soldier figures.

German newspaper Bild spoke with DiD representative Patrick Chan in Hong Kong, who told the newspaper: 'We offer no figures based on the footballer. The resemblance is purely coincidental.'

He added: 'The figure is based on a typical German. We believe most Germans look like this. Bastian is a common name in Germany.'

Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, 31, joined Manchester United from Bayern Munich in July

Two more images of the toy show him posing with food cans (left) and eating a dinner dressed in winter uniform

Media lawyer Ulrich Amelung said it was a clear violation of the rights of Schweinsteiger, and the portrayal of him wearing a swastika uniform was a 'clear case of defamation and insult'.

A spokesperson for Schweinsteiger's management team confirmed to MailOnline it had taken legal action regarding the dolls, adding they were doing 'everything in our power' to prevent their sale.

MailOnline has requested comment from DiD.

The DiD company website states it is based in Hong Kong, with its own factories operating in south China. It was established in 2003.

Although it produces its own figurines, it claims to also manufacture products for other companies, including Hasbro and Bandai.

The company's website stated: 'DID produce over 50 different items a year that no one in the industry can match.

'Thus, realistic, lifelike and accuracy are what you can find in all the DID products such as the widely accepted WWII series action figures.'