Joseph Goebbels is the Nazi Propaganda Minister and the film’s central figure. He prepares the German public psychologically for the approaching war, organizes the Kristallnacht pogrom and radical agitation against Jewish citizens, commissions Fritz Hippler’s antisemitic film, and delivers the 1943 Sportpalast speech calling for total war. His political relationship with Adolf Hitler drives the story.
A member of the southern German RSC rowing club who struggles with his long-standing romantic feelings for his teammate Achim. After being rejected, he finds comfort in Leo and eventually comes out to his team following a tense confrontation during a storm, earning their acceptance.
Heli is Barbara’s companion and fellow professional clown, and they share a family with their children. He dies in an accident while Barbara is away, leaving her to face the loss of her partner and the children’s medical crisis. His death is the event that transforms Barbara’s life and drives the story’s grief-centered plot.
Lyschko is another apprentice working at the mill. After Worschula is found dead in the creek, Krabat mistakenly blames Lyschko, making him a brief but important source of suspicion in the conflict surrounding Tonda's death and the master's deadly control over the boys.
Local resident, involved in community disputes and minor cases.
A male character who likely serves as a confidant, medical professional, or intellectual ally to the women, helping them cope with their trauma or navigate DDR bureaucracy.
A German officer known as the Prophet, Reiner commands Trench 11 and specializes in biological and chemical weapons. He deliberately cultivates parasite strains that jump from livestock to humans, hoping to use them to destroy Europe and rebuild it under German rule. He becomes Berton's principal enemy and dies beneath the collapsing bunker.
A local figure or minor character appearing in specific case subplots.
A young local man questioned as a suspect in Eva Kovacs’s murder. He says he supplied her with information for an article aimed at harming Matthias Leitgeb’s re-election prospects. Evidence shows he connected Eva with a source and worked with her to expose the mayor; a voice message sent at 2 a.m. may challenge the case against him.
Micha's young friend who secretly owns a Western music tape, survives being shot near the border because the record stops the bullet, and later discovers the tape is a forgery.
Engel is an orphan whose parents abandoned him and a young street survivor who meets Joe in a volatile punk environment. He falls deeply in love with her, dreams of building a family in the mountains, and reacts violently when their relationship or baby is threatened. His actions lead to arrest, separation, and imprisonment.
The sixteen-year-old protagonist transfers to a boarding school after attending several schools, hoping to improve academically while fearing he may not graduate. With his left arm and leg paralyzed, he struggles with disability, family troubles, and a failing math grade. He falls for Malen and forms a friendship with Janosch, but finds it difficult to express his feelings or choose his own path.
Robert Stadlober has 95 screen credits in a career dating back to 1991. Their work spans 2 cinematic universes — most prominently Eberhofer Collection with 1 titles. Signature works include Goebbels and the Führer, Snow, Der Mann, der über Autos sprang. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.
Universe traveler — spans 2 universes
Related entry on Wikidata (Q679794), public domain (CC0).
