Dortmun
Dortmun was the leader of a group of freedom fighters during the Daleks' occupation of Earth.
Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]
Dortmun was a scientist, (TV: The Dalek Invasion of Earth) father of Erica Dortmun (PROSE: GodEngine) and an old and close friend of Carl Tyler. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth) Following the Dalek invasion of Earth, Dortmun became the leader of a group of rebels based in a disused station in London. By this point, he had to use a wheelchair.
Because of his disability, Dortmun rarely left headquarters, spending his time attempting to create a bomb which could shatter the Daleks' dalekenium casings in the hopes of achieving a victory which would inspire rebellion across Europe. He decided to have his bombs used in an attack on Heliport Chelsea which was unsuccessful, although Tyler and Baker were able to rescue the First Doctor.
Following the Daleks' ultimatum, Dortmun, Barbara Wright and Jenny Chaplin relocated to the Civic Transport Museum where Dortmun created a new formula for his bomb. He told Barbara that he would like the Doctor to have a look at his notes and exited the building without telling her or Jenny, armed with his bomb. According to one account, he got out of his wheelchair and was shot by a Dalek, his bomb proving ineffective. (TV: The Dalek Invasion of Earth)
According to another account, Dortmun wheeled himself near a Dalek and caused an explosion which caused a corner of the building to collapse on himself and his target. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth)
Legacy[[edit] | [edit source]]
Although Dortmun's bombs were ineffective against dalekenium, David Campbell used the acid contained within one to damage a Dalek firebomb.
Barbara used Dortmun's notes as part of her ruse to distract the Daleks whilst she made an attempt to give an order to the Robomen.
Barbara and Jenny argued about Dortmun's suicide, Jenny believing that he had thrown his life away in a romantic and sentimental gesture whilst Barbara was thankful that his sacrifice had enabled the two women to escape.
Upon returning to London from Bedfordshire, Tyler wished that Dortmun and "people like him" could have been present. (TV: The Dalek Invasion of Earth)
Appearance[[edit] | [edit source]]
Dortmun was a middle-aged man with a strong, deeply-lined face. He had a muscular and powerful top half, but his legs were shrunken from lack of use and covered by an old army blanket. (TV: The Dalek Invasion of Earth)
Personality[[edit] | [edit source]]
Dortmun refused to accept that he was any less active than the other rebels. He believed that the rebels needed only one victory to inspire the rest of the survivors to rise up against the Daleks. (TV: The Dalek Invasion of Earth)
Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Dortmun was originally to be the father of Saida, the character who became Jenny Chaplin.[1] He would eventually gain a daughter, Erica Dortmun, in the novel GodEngine.
- Dortmun was portrayed by Godfrey Quigley in Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D., which mostly retold the story of The Dalek Invasion of Earth.
