Joana is a 21-year-old Lithuanian woman with medical training serving as a surgical assistant. Burdened by a deep sense of guilt over her departure from her homeland, she channels her remorse into helping others. She acts as the compassionate leader of a small group of refugees, using her skills to treat injuries while they trek across the frozen terrain toward the evacuation ships.

Florian is a resourceful young Prussian man traveling alone with a concealed injury. Formerly an art restoration apprentice in Konigsberg, he harbors a deep mistrust of authority and carries secrets that make him desperate to evade Nazi officials. He prefers isolation but reluctantly becomes entwined with Joana's group when their paths cross.

Emilia is a 15-year-old Polish girl who is eight months pregnant and deeply traumatized by the war. Having lost her mother years ago and recently been separated from her father, she is terrified of being discovered. She views Florian as her knight and struggles to trust others, hiding her Polish nationality to survive the dangerous journey.

Alfred is a 17-year-old German soldier stationed at the port of Gotenhafen to assist with the massive naval evacuation. Arrogant and cowardly, he avoids his actual duties while composing boastful, delusional letters to a former neighbor. He embraces Nazi propaganda to compensate for his physical weaknesses and deep-seated insecurities.

Ingrid is a young German woman who has been blind since birth. Left stranded at a train station by her aunt, she was found and taken in by Joana. She compensates for her lack of sight with heightened intuition and hearing, sensing danger and reading people's intentions in ways the sighted members of the group cannot.

Eva is a remarkably tall and physically imposing woman in Joana's group, often called "Sorry Eva" for her habit of making blunt, unapologetic statements. Unlike the other refugees who hide their identities or thoughts in fear, she speaks her mind freely and refuses to be silenced by the oppressive wartime atmosphere.

Heinz is an elderly, kindly widower and cobbler lovingly referred to as the "shoe poet." He possesses a deep knowledge of footwear, believing that a person's shoes reveal their true story and character. He acts as the wise, stabilizing grandfather figure for the group of refugees as they face freezing temperatures and starvation.

Klaus is a six-year-old orphaned boy, often called the "wandering boy," traveling with Joana's group. Despite the horrors of the war surrounding him, he maintains a level of innocence and openness. He closely attaches himself to the older members of the group for protection and guidance while noticing subtle details others miss.

Dr. Lange is a museum director in Konigsberg who oversees Florian's art restoration apprenticeship. He is closely involved with high-ranking Nazi officials, helping them hide stolen works of art. He uses his position and charm to manipulate talented young artists for the regime's benefit.

Gauleiter Koch is a notoriously brutal regional Nazi leader in East Prussia. He is heavily involved in the hoarding and hiding of stolen treasures, including the famous Amber Room. His far-reaching authority makes him a terrifying and dangerous figure to those who cross him.

Hannelore is Alfred's former next-door neighbor, a young woman of Jewish descent. She exists primarily in the narrative through Alfred's delusional, obsessive letters, in which he fabricates a mutual romantic relationship and positions himself as a hero to impress her.

Frau Kleist is a German woman who runs a farm in East Prussia where Emilia is sent to stay. Deeply prejudiced and fully indoctrinated by Nazi ideology, she harbors resentment toward Emilia due to her Polish heritage and treats her with extreme cruelty.

August is the teenage son of Frau Kleist. Unlike his mother, he shows kindness to Emilia during her stay on their farm. Emilia uses his name to fabricate a protective story about her pregnancy and circumstances to avoid suspicion from German soldiers.