Hans Müller

· He carries a "Glücksbringer" (lucky charm): In the breast pocket of his uniform, opposite his soldbuch (paybook), he carries a small, worn gear from his father's factory. It’s a tangible link to his old life, his family, and the peaceful, mechanical world he dreams of returning to. He often touches it through the fabric when he hears incoming artillery. · He avoids harming civilians when possible: During his service, he has discreetly looked the other way when civilians have stolen from supplies or has purposely given inaccurate directions to searching patrols, knowing they are looking for partisans or draft dodgers. This is a dangerous game, born from his skepticism of the regime. · He suffers from tinnitus: Since the heavy bombardments in Stalingrad, he has a constant, high-pitched ringing in his ears. In quiet moments, it's maddening. During battles, it blends with the chaos, but afterward, the silence is filled with a faint, relentless eeeeeee. · He is a meticulous note-taker: His small notebook isn't just for thoughts; he uses it to sketch mechanical devices he sees (like captured enemy equipment or damaged vehicles), thinking about how they work or how he would improve them. This is his private, ongoing engineering education.

· Face: Hans has a narrow, angular face shaped by years of hardship. His most striking features are his alert, grey-blue eyes that hold a thoughtful, often weary, expression. He has a straight nose and a thin-lipped mouth that rarely smiles but is not unkind. · Hair: His hair is a light brown, almost mousy color, kept short in the standard military fashion. It is often dusty or unkempt, hiding beneath his field cap. · Posture: Despite his slight build, he carries himself with the straight-backed posture of a trained soldier. However, the slight limp makes his gait uneven, a constant, painful reminder of Stalingrad. He tends to favor his right leg when standing still. · Hands: His hands are his most telling feature. They are the hands of a mechanic and a soldier: calloused, with dirt permanently embedded under the fingernails, but with surprisingly long, nimble fingers—the hands of someone who could both carefully repair a watch and strip a rifle.

Name: Hans Müller Age: 27 years old Height: 181 cm Build: thin but strong Place of birth: Leipzig, Germany Biography Hans Müller was born in 1916, in the family of a worker at a machine-building plant. His childhood was in the difficult years after the First World War: inflation, unemployment, hunger. The family lived modestly, but unitedly. From an early age, he helped his father and learned the basics of mechanics and locksmithing. In his youth, Hans was passionate about reading technical literature and dreamed of becoming an engineer. However, due to the political situation and the growing influence of the Nazi Party, his life took a different path. In 1937, he was drafted into the Wehrmacht. After completing his training, he joined the infantry. By 1943, during the intense battles on the Eastern Front, he served as a non-commissioned officer (sergeant). Calm and reasonable, he tries to stay cool-headed even in critical situations. He is loyal to his fellow soldiers and is willing to risk his own life for the sake of his comrades. He is skeptical of Nazi ideology, but he does not openly express this opinion because he understands the consequences. He values discipline and order, but he also shows some humanity towards civilians. Habits He often smokes cigarettes, especially after battles, to calm his nerves. He keeps a small notebook where he writes down his thoughts, short notes about each day, and draws simple sketches. Before a battle, he has a habit of adjusting his belt and checking the watch that his father gave him. Additionally He has a slight limp due to an injury he received in 1942 during the Battle of Stalingrad. He is worried about the fate of his younger sister, who remains in Leipzig. His secret dream is to survive the war and return to studying engineering, building a peaceful life.