Gerda is a 15-year-old Jewish girl living a secure life in Bielitz before the invasion. She relies on her close-knit family for emotional support. Thrown into the brutal reality of occupation and forced-labor camps, she draws on memories of her past and a solemn promise to her father. She utilizes her imagination and loyalty to endure harsh conditions while caring for her friends.

Kurt is a German-born Jewish refugee who immigrated to the United States and returns to Europe as an American soldier. He serves as an intelligence officer in the Fifth US Infantry Division. Recognizing the humanity of the survivors he encounters, he offers them respect and medical care. He carries his own grief regarding his parents' deportation.

Moses Merin serves as the head of the Central Jewish Council in Sosnowiec. Operating under the extreme pressure of the Nazi regime, he holds significant authority over the local Jewish population. He makes utilitarian calculations regarding who is sent to labor and who faces worse fates, attempting to appease the Germans by sacrificing some to save others.

Ilse is a gifted pianist and Gerda's childhood friend from Bielitz. Her musical aspirations are cut short when her piano is confiscated early in the occupation. She is fiercely loyal, frequently sharing her meager rations and risking her own safety to protect Gerda during grueling work details. Her presence provides a vital source of comfort.

Abek is an Orthodox Jewish artist from Sosnowiec who becomes immediately captivated by Gerda. He uses his initial position to bring her books and provisions. His intense romantic devotion drives him to make significant personal sacrifices to remain near her. This creates a heavy emotional burden of guilt for the young woman he pursues.

Frau Kügler operates as the German civilian supervisor at the Kramsta-Methner-Frahne weaving mill in Bolkenhain. Despite maintaining a strict exterior, she quietly exhibits humanity and covert protectiveness toward the women under her charge. She recognizes the lethal danger of SS inspections and takes calculated risks to shield sick prisoners from discovery.

Arthur is Gerda's 19-year-old older brother. He is intelligent and deeply admired by his family. His early conscription for forced labor fractures the household, but his parting advice remains a constant source of spiritual strength. He sends infrequent letters from the Soviet-occupied zone.

Suse is an optimistic young woman from Vienna. She maintains a buoyant spirit in the face of captivity, famously making a lighthearted wager about when the war will end for a quart of strawberries and cream. Her cheerful disposition boosts the morale of her fellow prisoners during factory work.

Julius is Gerda's father and a successful factory executive. His failing health forces the family to remain in Bielitz during the initial invasion. He is a pragmatic parent who utilizes his medical knowledge and faith to educate his daughter. He recognizes the physical realities of their persecution and equips his daughter with practical tools for endurance.

Helene is Gerda's mother. She is a devoted homemaker who created a cultured environment for her family before the war. As the occupation dismantles their lives, she adapts by trading unravelled sweaters for food. Her interactions with her daughter feature fierce commands to maintain strength.

Sophie is an Austrian Catholic woman who served as Gerda's nanny since infancy. Known affectionately as Niania, she is deeply loyal to the Weissmann family. She ignores German prohibitions and risks her own safety to bring them food in the ghetto. She refuses to abandon them when other neighbors turn away.

Mr. Pipersberg acts as Julius Weissmann's business partner. He is a widower with grown children. He struggles to accept the confiscation of his property and suffers severe physical consequences when he attempts to assert ownership of his factory.

Malvine Berger serves as the senior Jewish elder at the Bolkenhain camp. She enforces discipline among the female prisoners, sometimes using harsh methods to maintain order and appease the Nazi guards. She bears the difficult responsibility of confirming tragic news to the prisoners.

Liesel is a graceful Czech woman whom Gerda befriends at the Grünberg camp. She is knowledgeable about the dangers of the different work assignments. She endures the harsh conditions of the camp alongside her close-knit group of friends.

Lilli is a Hungarian university professor who becomes part of Gerda's circle during the marches. She is observant and skeptical of optimistic rumors. She faces the grim reality of their circumstances with a clear-eyed academic perspective.

Anna is Julius's sister. She seeks refuge in Bielitz after a failed escape to Warsaw leaves her separated from her husband. She carries the profound trauma of witnessing a mass execution and isolates herself in her grief.

David is Anna's 19-year-old son. He survives a deadly skirmish by climbing a tree and traveling at night to reach his relatives in Bielitz. He eventually registers for forced labor alongside his cousin.

Gisa is Arthur's girlfriend. She flees Bielitz with her family when the invasion begins. She corresponds with the Weissmann family after Arthur is sent to a labor camp, participating in a well-intentioned deception to spare Arthur's parents from agonizing worry.

Trude is the daughter of the Weissmanns' former laundress. Initially living rent-free in their basement, she and her mother appropriate the main house when the Weissmanns are forced into the cellar. This demonstrates the swift opportunism of former neighbors.