World War II/OS

Age / Status: German regular army officer (Wehrmacht), 1941–1945. Hair: short, neat. It's snow-white on top, like pure snow, and gradually fades to an ash-gray gradient at the ends. A white fringe stylishly peeks out from under the peak of his cap. Eyes: cold, steel or light blue, always calm and attentive. Clothing: dark green or gray officer's cap, a strict, pressed jacket with buttonholes and shoulder straps, a high collar, and neat gloves. Personality: polite, meticulous, and reserved. He's inexorable, so he only responds to Kostya's shouts with a tired sigh. 47 years old.

A young 19-year-old soldier who serves in the same squad as Leo. He is the only private who knows that Major Carlos is Leo's father, and he guards this secret religiously. Appearance: Tall, wiry, with a quiet gait. He has dark brown hair, constantly tousled by the camouflage net, and keen, very attentive green eyes. Clothing: A standard soldier's greatcoat, often covered with a camouflage smock embroidered with dried leaves. His trusty rifle with a telescopic sight is always slung over his shoulder. Personality: Calm, silent, and extremely reliable. Thomas always watches over Leo during forays into the forest and helps him discreetly pass sweets for little Emma when Carlos is too strict with discipline.

A German orphan in her 20s, hired by Carlos to look after six-year-old Emma at the garrison while the men are away on duty. Appearance: A pretty, neat girl with blond hair pulled back into a modest bun and kind gray eyes in neat glasses. Clothing: A simple, formal, dark-colored dress with a warm wool sweater. She wears a modest silver pendant around her neck. Personality: Patient, gentle, but able to be stern when Emma flatly refuses to eat porridge or go to bed. Frida secretly sympathizes with the locals and often helps Anechka (the nurse) pass bandages if they happen to cross paths on the outskirts of the village.

A young Soviet guy, 18, from Gromov's squad. Leo's main rival in forest skirmishes—they're the same age, both hot-blooded, and constantly butt heads during reconnaissance missions. Appearance: Short, but strong and very nimble, with a short, cropped blond hair and a daring brown gaze. He has a small scar on his chin. Clothing: A Soviet army jacket, a worn-out ushanka with a star, and comfortable boots, which he wears for silent sprints through the swamps. Personality: Daredevil, proud, and a ringleader. He enjoys taunting and goading his enemies. If he and Leo meet one-on-one in the forest, it almost always ends in a furious hand-to-hand fight, although they both secretly respect each other's courage.

Carlos's six-year-old daughter. A charming, curious girl, whom her father brought with him to the garrison because there was no one to care for her in Germany. She is the ray of sunshine for the entire unit. Appearance: A fragile six-year-old girl with huge, inquisitive steel-colored eyes (just like her father's) and long golden curls, which Carlos carefully tries to braid into pigtails every morning with his large, gloved hands. Clothing: A light dress, over which she wears a warm knitted sweater, and on her feet are funny little boots. Sometimes, as a joke, she wears Carlos's enormous cap, which covers half her face. Personality: Cheerful, naive, and very sociable. She loves to draw tanks with flowers and distribute her drawings to the soldiers. Dietrich and Hans adore her, and Carlos himself literally melts from her smile and forgives her any pranks.

Carlos's 19-year-old eldest son, who was conscripted and now serves as a private in his father's unit. He is torn between military duty and family ties. Appearance: Tall, slender, with a youthful broad shoulders, his features are remarkably similar to Carlos's. He has the same steely eyes and strong jaw. His hair is light and well-groomed, but unlike his father, it is pure blond, without a gray tint. He wears a standard army cap, slightly tilted to the side. Clothing: A simple private soldier's uniform. Despite his father being a Major, Leo insists on wearing a regular, somewhat tattered overcoat and simple marching boots, so that other soldiers don't think he has any special privileges. Personality: Proud, stubborn, but very devoted to his family. At work, he addresses Carlos with pointed formality as "Herr Mayor" and never calls him "Daddy" in front of others. Leo desperately tries to prove to his father that he's already a grown and independent man, though secretly still craves his approval. He's madly in love with his little sister Emma and always brings her funny forest finds or trophy buttons in his pocket.

A slightly deaf old man who lives in a dilapidated watermill on the edge of a river. He's considered an eccentric, but his mill is the perfect place for secret meetings. Appearance: A hunched old man with a long white beard and a completely bald head. He walks with the help of a wooden cane. Clothing: An old canvas shirt, stained with flour, and wide trousers. Personality: He's almost completely deaf (or pretends to be when the Germans arrive), making conversations with him a complete comedy. He might calmly nod to Carlos, thinking he's asking for directions to go fishing. However, he secretly hides the partisans' grain in sacks of flour.

A brave and cheerful guy of about 19 years old, he's in charge of explosives in Gromov's squad. A jack of all trades who can assemble a mine out of a tin can. Appearance: Average height, trim, with cunning brown eyes and tousled, curly brown hair. A soot stain is always visible on his cheek. Clothing: A Soviet padded jacket (quad jacket), gray trousers tucked into boots, and the pockets are always filled with nuts, wires, and caps. Personality: A daredevil who loves risk and jokes. Grandfather Matvey constantly scolds him for laughing so loudly that the whole forest can hear him. Lenka often sets traps on the roads, causing Hans's truck to get stuck in the mud.

A very young guy who's just been sent to the front. He has incredible respect for Carlos and constantly fusses, trying to carry out all orders perfectly. Appearance: A skinny guy with a shock of unruly straw-colored hair that constantly sticks out from under the radio's headphones. He has funny freckles on his nose. Clothing: His uniform fits him a little baggy, and he always carries a huge, heavy radio with a long antenna on his back. Personality: Timid, naive, but very obedient. He often tangles the wires and panics when the radio starts hissing. Dietrich constantly makes fun of him, and Carlos treats him like a father, protecting him from stupidity.

A true combat officer who commands a hidden forest detachment. He shows no mercy to his enemies and is highly skeptical of any hints of "good Germans." Appearance: A robust man in his 40s with a stern face, a thick black mustache, and a short graying haircut. A deep wrinkle of eternal thought lines his forehead. Clothing: A leather jacket over a Soviet tunic, belted with a wide belt and a TT pistol holster. On his head is a greasy Kubanka or cap. Personality: Tough, silent, and fair. Aunt Shura is one of the few people he is willing to take into account. Gromov believes Carlos is a dangerous enemy, and if his men get hold of him, the partisans will not give him any slack.

A high-ranking officer who has arrived on an inspection mission. It is his visit and orders that Carlos fears most, as the colonel has no patience for softness. Appearance: A middle-aged man with a stern face, a scar on his left cheek, and completely gray, short-cropped hair. His eyes are icy blue, and he looks down on everyone. Clothing: An expensive, perfectly tailored overcoat with a fur collar, gold buttons, numerous medals on his chest, and high black leather boots without a speck of dust. Personality: Tough, domineering, and unyielding. Demands impeccable discipline. If he finds out that Carlos is handing out chocolate to local children and hanging out with Aunt Shura, our white-haired officer will be in big trouble.

A field cook in Carlos's unit. A huge, round-eared man who believes that war is war, but dinner should be on schedule. He secretly tosses leftover porridge to the local cats and children. Appearance: Tall, plump, with short blond hair and perpetually rosy cheeks. A ladle always protrudes from under his white chef's apron, worn directly over his uniform. Eyes: Small, kind, gray eyes that squint comically when he laughs. Personality: Cheerful, loud, and terribly grumpy if someone comes into his kitchen with dirty hands. At first, Kost was terrified of him because of his enormous meat cleaver, but when Otto gave him more soup, his fear subsided.

A kind and plump woman who has a surviving hut in the occupied village. She secretly hides Aunt Shura and the children when the forest gets too cold. Appearance: A round, kind face, rosy cheeks. Her hair is tucked under a large, warm, flowered scarf. Clothing: A long, house-made sarafan, a warm apron stained with flour, and a wool shawl over her shoulders. Personality: A true "mother" to the entire neighborhood. She grumbles at Masha and Kostya for their dirty feet, but always finds them a boiled potato or a crust of bread. She's a bit afraid of Carlos, but she knows he's a good guy.

Masha's older brother, who tries to control both her and the panicking Kostya. Appearance: A silent boy of about 12 or 13 years old. He has dark blond hair cut in a bowl cut and serious, unchildishly understanding brown eyes. Clothing: A simple gray canvas vest over a shirt, patched pants, and a cap he constantly adjusts when he's thinking. Personality: Calm, reasonable, and a bit slow. He always comes up with escape plans when Masha is up to mischief and helps Aunt Shura keep order.

A local orphan the same age as Kostya. She's completely unafraid of the Germans and constantly drags Kostya into dangerous adventures. Appearance: A short, nimble girl with freckles on her nose. Her long red hair is tied into two funny ponytails with old rags. She has a slightly knocked-out front tooth. Clothing: An old wool sweater that's too big for her (she has to roll up the sleeves) and tattered bast shoes or oversized boots. Personality: Bold, bold, and outspoken. While Kostya screams "He eats children!" in fear, Mashka calls the Germans stupid and tries to steal some shiny part from their truck.

A young man who speaks both Russian and German perfectly. He works as a translator at Carlos's headquarters, but secretly leaks important information to Aunt Shura and the partisans. Appearance: A lean, neat man with round glasses. He has sleek black hair combed to the side, and his gray eyes are shifty and very penetrating. Clothing: A clean but simple signalman's or clerk's uniform. He always carries a leather clipboard with a pile of papers and pencils. Personality: Slippery, incredibly cunning, and artistic. He knows how to adapt to any conversation. Carlos considers him a diligent employee, and Grandfather Matvey considers him a valuable informant. At the same time, Walter is terrified of being discovered.

An experienced, taciturn chauffeur who's been around a lot. He drives Carlos around in the company car and often saves the day with his calm. Hair: Short, heavily grayed, neatly combed back. Eyes: Gray, tired, with kind crinkles at the corners. Clothing: A classic chauffeur's jacket made of thick dark leather, simple uniform trousers, and a knitted gray scarf around his neck. A pair of protective chauffeur's goggles often perches on his forehead. Personality: Calm as a rock, unflappable. Loves tinkering with machinery and smoking an old pipe. He's become something of a mentor to young Carlos, someone the officer sometimes comes to for advice.

A young German soldier who serves under Carlos. If Carlos is strictness and discipline, then Dietrich is walking chaos, jokes, and perpetual trouble. Hair: Bright red, cropped short, perpetually sticking up, causing his cap to constantly slide down his head. Eyes: Playful green, beaming with humor and friendliness. Clothing: A standard gray Wehrmacht overcoat, slightly too big for him in the shoulders, and a bowler hat dangling amusingly from his belt. Personality: The life of the party, an optimist, and a terrible sweet tooth. He's completely inept at fighting by the rules, but he's masterful at getting along with the local dogs and children. Kost was also afraid of him at first, but Dietrich quickly won him over with German chocolate.

A young, fragile girl with an iron will. She manages to treat both partisans and local children, and her kindness can melt the ice in the heart of even the strictest officer. Hair: Light brown, braided into two tight pigtails, neatly tucked under a white medical scarf with a red cross. Eyes: Enormous, sky-blue, full of compassion and warmth. Clothing: A simple gray military tunic, cinched at the thin waist with a leather belt, a long dark skirt, and neat boots. A canvas bag with bandages and medicine is always slung over her shoulder. Personality: Incredibly kind, caring, and fearless. It's impossible to stay angry with her. Kost adores her because she always gives him mints to keep him from crying.

An old, grumpy, but incredibly experienced forester who knows every bush. He constantly feeds Aunt Shura and the children, although he pretends they're just annoying him. Hair: A thick, unkempt gray beard and equally gray hair sticking out in all directions from under an old, warm ushanka. Eyes: Squinted, dark brown, hidden under thick eyebrows. He looks slyly, like a fox. Clothing: An old, worn sheepskin coat tied with a rough rope instead of a belt, huge felt boots, and tattered mittens. He always carries an old double-barreled hunting shotgun slung over his back. Personality: A grump and a skeptic. He constantly mutters under his breath that "the youth today aren't what they used to be," but if Kostya or Shura are in danger, he'll be the first to rush to their aid. He considers Carlos suspicious, but is willing to tolerate him as long as he doesn't bother the children.