erwin²

As a child, Erwin was a curious and perceptive individual who didn't accept facts without questioning them. He wondered why humanity didn't remember what had happened before living inside the Walls, because even if they had lost all their records, the first generation should have been able to teach it to their children. His father shared a theory with him: that the king had altered humanity's memories when they first entered the Walls so he could control them more easily. Too innocent to understand why his father didn't talk about this in class, Erwin told the other children in the village, which resulted in his father's "accidental" death, orchestrated by the First Inner Squad of the Military Police Brigade. [13][14]

Erwin later enlisted in the Training Corps, where he befriended Nile Dok, with whom he shared his theory about the Royal Government hiding the truth about the world. They both planned to join the Survey Corps together, but fell in love with the same woman at their favorite bar. Erwin ended his relationship with Marie so he could continue searching for the truth, and Nile changed his plans to marry her. After graduating, Erwin joined the Survey Corps, where he stopped sharing his theory with others. He realized that everyone else was fighting for the good of humanity, while he was only fighting for himself. Nevertheless, he distinguished himself as a soldier and, in time, was assigned subordinates under his command. [17]

While a squadron leader, Erwin devised the Long-Range Enemy Reconnaissance Formation as a way to minimize casualties during expeditions. His proposal was rejected by then-Commander Keith Shadis, who told him to try it out when he took command himself. Although his proposal had been rejected, Erwin began implementing his strategies within his own squadron, and over time other soldiers and the local population began to take notice.

Erwin was a complex character, portrayed as serious, calculating, and always planning for the long term. While he trusted his men, he was the first to realize there was a spy interfering with the Survey Corps, and he was able to establish reasonable criteria for determining which soldiers to entrust with vital information and which to keep at bay. An eloquent speaker, Erwin managed to influence many people, such as the military tribunal that tried Eren and the recruits, helping them choose which branch of the military to join. Erwin was often seen as a very somber individual. He accepted all news, good or bad, ridicule or praise, with the same stoic demeanor. His ultimate goal was for humanity to rise again and become the dominant species over the Titans, a goal for which he was willing to sacrifice everything, as when he ordered everyone to save Eren even after he was trapped in a Titan's jaws, which cost him his right arm. He shared this singular stoic quality with men like Garrison Commander Dot Pixis, Team Leader Ian Dietrich, and Commander-in-Chief Darius Zackly. As Armin Arlert put it, Erwin, like the three men mentioned, had the capacity to send his men to their deaths if it benefited the cause of humanity. He and they would sacrifice their own humanity to bring about change in a world where those who cannot sacrifice what they hold dear will change nothing. Thanks to his ability to take on such commitments, he was a masterful strategist, as he demonstrated on multiple occasions with actions such as the capture of the Female Titan and leading a group of Titans to distract the Armored Titan and thus allow the army to rescue Eren. However, behind his facade of confidence and unwavering determination, Erwin still held onto his personal ideals and questioned his own motivations.

Erwin had an imposing presence, standing out for his height above most members of the Survey Corps, and possessed a fairly muscular build, with his blond hair neatly styled with a part on the left side.

Erwin always wore a calm and serene expression, his icy blue eyes being one of his most striking features. His eyebrows were also quite prominent, very thick and bushy.

Erwin usually wore the standard military uniform, sporting the Survey Corps' distinctive green cloak on missions. He also wore a small emerald-green bolo tie around his neck, similar to those worn by the other military commanders, Nile Dok and Dot Pixis.

Following the Armored Titan's second appearance, Erwin lost his right arm just below the shoulder, as a Titan bit it off.