World War I and manages gymnasiums in Burgdorf. Despite his womanizing reputation, he secretly aids the town's needy, earning a heroic status posthumously when his true identity as the "Unknown Benefactor" is revealed. Emil’s friendship with Leo Montag and involvement in resistance activities against the Nazis, including driving Jews to safety, underscore his courage. His death, a result of his defiance, cements his role as a complex yet ultimately noble character.

Eva Rosen Sturm

Eva Rosen, a childhood friend of Trudi Montag, is characterized by her striking beauty marred by a birthmark, which leaves her feeling inferior. As a Jew in a predominantly Christian environment, she faces persistent ostracism. Her marriage to Alexander Sturm, a Christian, defies societal norms but ultimately results in tragedy when she is discovered hiding and arrested by the Nazis. Eva’s fate in a concentration camp highlights the perils faced by those who dared to challenge the prevailing prejudices.

Alexander Sturm

Alexander Sturm, mesmerized by Eva’s beauty, marries her despite the impending legal prohibitions against such unions. Overwhelmed by guilt and helplessness as the Nazis arrest his wife, he enlists in the military, seeking redemption through martyrdom. His eventual desertion and suicide illustrate his profound despair and inability to reconcile his actions during the Nazi regime.

Ingrid Baum

Ingrid Baum’s harrowing childhood in Burgdorf, marked by sexual abuse from her father, leads her to internalize guilt and self-hatred. As an adult, she finds solace in stringent religious devotion, but her unresolved trauma results in a tragic attempt to 'save' her daughters through murder. Her actions leave a legacy of trauma that is passed down to Karin, highlighting the cyclical nature of abuse and the destructive power of internalized guilt.

Max Rudnick

Max Rudnick, a schoolteacher, loses his job after an ill-timed joke about Hitler and relocates to Düsseldorf, where he rebuilds his life. His relationship with Trudi Montag is marked by mutual understanding and affection, providing Trudi with a rare glimpse of romantic love. Max’s emphasis on individuality resonates with Trudi, encouraging her to embrace her uniqueness.

Renate Eberhardt

Renate Eberhardt, known for her generosity and independence, maintains a vibrant garden that symbolizes her love for life. Her steadfastness in aiding Jews during Nazi rule and her refusal to capitulate to her son’s demands exemplify her strength of character. Betrayed by her son Helmut, Renate’s arrest and subsequent death in a concentration camp underscore the personal sacrifices made by those who resisted tyranny.

Hilde Sommer Eberhardt

Hilde Sommer Eberhardt, Helmut’s wife and a midwife, initially conforms to her husband’s wishes but later embodies resilience and duty. After Helmut's death, she dedicates herself to preserving her mother-in-law’s memory and ensures her son knows of Renate’s legacy. Her loyalty and ability to adapt reflect the strength of women who survived the war’s aftermath through quiet perseverance.

Sister Adelheid

Sister Adelheid is a defiant voice against the Catholic Church's rigid hierarchy. Her aspirations to priesthood and subsequent imprisonment reflect the novel’s critique of religious authoritarianism. Her candid admission to Trudi about convent life reveals a yearning for authenticity and challenges institutional confines.

Fräulein Birnsteig

Fräulein Birnsteig, a renowned pianist and philanthropist, resides on an estate near Burgdorf. Despite Nazi occupation, she continues her charitable work until the loss of her adopted son in a concentration camp prompts her tragic suicide. Her annual free concerts and mentorship of young musicians like Matthias Berger highlight her commitment to nurturing talent even in dark times.

Matthias Berger

Matthias Berger, a talented young pianist, grapples with his sexual orientation within the confines of a seminary. His struggle is compounded by abuse and the church’s repressive doctrines. Confiding in Trudi, Matthias receives her father's unconventional wisdom but ultimately chooses celibacy, sacrificing his musical dreams for perceived spiritual safety.

Klaus Malter

Klaus Malter, a dentist in Burgdorf, attracts attention from women like Ingrid Baum and Trudi Montag but ultimately marries the artist Jutta Sturm. His complex relationships reflect the intertwining personal and societal upheavals of the era. The birth of his daughter Hanna offers Trudi a surrogate maternal role, fulfilling her nurturing instincts.

Flora Blau

Flora Blau, an elderly resident of Burgdorf, exemplifies the town’s enduring spirit with her immaculate home and longing for her estranged son Stefan. Her life, marked by meticulous care, reflects the personal and collective loss experienced by those who lived through the war’s disruptions.

Martin Blau

Martin Blau, a retired tailor, struggles with guilt over past inaction when he turned away a Jewish man seeking refuge. His subsequent efforts to aid the Montags in hiding Jews demonstrate his desire for redemption and the profound impact of collective conscience during times of moral crisis.

Doktor Rosen

Doktor Rosen, a Jewish physician, faces the decline of her practice under Nazi rule but successfully escapes to Switzerland with her husband. Her daughter Eva’s decision to remain in Germany, however, culminates in tragedy. Doktor Rosen’s medical insights provide Trudi with a pragmatic understanding of her dwarfism, encouraging self-acceptance.

Lotte Simon

Lotte Simon, a skilled milliner, navigates the complexities of her Jewish identity while maintaining her fashionable business. Her on-again, off-again relationship with Emil Hesping and arrest by the Nazis highlight the vulnerability of even successful Jewish individuals during this era. Lotte’s correspondence with Ilse Abramowitz from a labor camp underscores the pervasive uncertainty and fear faced by Jews.

Hans-Jürgen Braunmeier

Hans-Jürgen Braunmeier, a peer of Trudi Montag, endures a violent childhood, marked by abuse and exclusion. His antisocial behavior and punishment at the hands of school authorities foreshadow his eventual descent into violence and murder. Hans-Jürgen’s trajectory highlights the destructive consequences of neglect and brutality.

Helmut Eberhardt

Helmut Eberhardt, born in the shadow of his mother's widowhood, exerts a chilling influence over his family. His betrayal of his mother Renate, resulting in her arrest, reflects his ruthless ambition. His subsequent death in war is met with relief by townspeople aware of his treachery, illustrating the complex interplay of familial loyalty and moral failure.

Anton Immers Sr.

Anton Immers, a butcher with a fabricated military past, succumbs to Nazi sympathies, projecting his own insecurities onto his community. His collaboration illuminates the ease with which individuals can be swayed by propaganda and fear during tumultuous times.

Pia

Pia, the first dwarf Trudi encounters, offers a perspective on self-acceptance and diversity. Her life as a circus performer provides Trudi with a model of resilience and self-love, which remains a pivotal influence throughout Trudi's journey of self-discovery.

Hedwig Weiler

Hedwig Weiler, a survivor of both familial and marital abuse, raises her son Georg alone after her husband's death. Her protective instincts and unconventional parenting reflect her determination to shield him from malevolent influences. However, Georg’s eventual participation in violence against Trudi underscores the limitations of such protective measures.