Russian soldier briefly encountered during frontline skirmishes.
Marko's brother and a Belgrade Zoo animal keeper. After the bombing, he rescues a baby chimp named Soni and hides in the Dren family cellar. Decades later in 1992, he re-emerges with Soni, confronts Marko's arms dealing, beats him unconscious, and commits suicide. He delivers a poetic farewell in the film's dreamlike finale.
Petar Cvetković is a high school graduate and the central character of the story. During the politically turbulent summer of 1968, he searches for lasting love by becoming involved with several women, while also preparing a Marxism-related graduation thesis and struggling to satisfy his demanding father.
A Serbian engineer and railway caretaker who moves to Bosnia with his family. Blinded by optimism amid rising war tensions, he loses his son to the draft and his wife to another man. To secure Miloš's release, he takes Bosnian hostage Sabaha, but they fall deeply in love while fleeing conflict. After a failed suicide attempt, he ultimately reunites with Sabaha, choosing love over his fractured family.
Sven Hassel is one of the soldiers in the penal-unit tank crew searching for assigned convicts in Germany. He is part of the group sent to the Russian Front and later joins the covert operation to infiltrate enemy positions and destroy the train carrying oil.
Ranko is the film's principal credited character, portrayed by Slavko Štimac, who is identified in the provided material as the main actor. The plot summary supplies no further information about his actions or relationships.
Pera Trta is the central resident of the correctional institution, a defiant and resourceful young offender who steals, smokes secretly, gambles, and mocks authority. He rejects Cane's control, allies with Ljupče, and reacts bitterly to news about his mother. His later confession exposes the abuse, poverty, and confusion shaping his life.
A member of the traveling theater troupe navigating the perilous journey through the Bosnian warzone.
Slavko Štimac has 56 screen credits in a career dating back to 1972. Their work is anchored in the Cross of Iron Collection universe with 1 titles. Signature works include The Elusive Summer of '68, Los Alamos, Life Is a Miracle. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.
Related entry on Wikidata (Q954363), public domain (CC0).
