Sofie is a German mother and devoted wife who relocates to America in 1950 after living through the rise and fall of the Nazi regime in Berlin. Raised in a wealthy family that lost its fortune, she focuses her energy entirely on keeping her family safe and intact. She approaches her new life in Alabama with optimism, though she faces immediate hostility and suspicion from her American neighbors regarding her family's past in Germany.

Lizzie is a pragmatic, strong-willed Texas woman who comes of age during the devastation of the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. She prefers physical farm work over traditional domestic expectations and views marriage as a practical partnership rather than a romantic ideal. Moving to Huntsville, Alabama, as the wife of an aeronautical engineer, she acts as the primary caretaker and defender for her struggling brother.

Jürgen is a brilliant German scientist recruited by the United States under Project Paperclip to advance the American space and weapons programs. Originally a teacher in Berlin with dreams of spaceflight, his expertise forces him into government work building rockets for the military. He carries significant guilt over the destruction his creations cause and the moral lines he crosses to keep his family physically safe.

Lizzie's older brother, who faces early adulthood during the devastation of the Dust Bowl. He struggles to provide for his family and experiences severe mental health challenges after witnessing the horrors of the Buchenwald concentration camp as a soldier. In Huntsville, he receives harmful experimental treatments for combat fatigue, leading to paranoia and a dangerous fixation on the Rhodes family.

Sofie's childhood best friend, a Jewish woman whose family loses its wealth and stability following World War I. She lives with the Rhodes family in Berlin, assisting with household duties and caring for the children. As political tensions rise, her presence in the Rhodes home becomes increasingly dangerous for everyone involved.

Jürgen's elderly great-aunt who raised him following the deaths of his parents. Sharp-minded and courageous, she manages an apartment building and possesses a clear-eyed understanding of the danger posed by the shifting political environment. She acts as a quiet force of resistance, leveraging her status as an old woman to funnel aid to those attempting to flee Germany.

An American aeronautical engineer working on Project Paperclip. He proposes to Lizzie with the understanding that their marriage will be a practical partnership rather than a passionate romance. He balances his career ambitions with a genuine desire to assist his brother-in-law Henry, though he struggles to manage Henry's escalating volatility.

Sofie and Jürgen's eldest son, growing up in Berlin during a period of intense political change. Initially a sweet boy who adores Mayim, he becomes deeply affected by the mandated curriculum and peer pressure at his school, forcing his parents to confront the reality of raising children under an oppressive regime.

Sofie and Jürgen's eldest daughter, who spends her formative years in Berlin. Like her older brother, she absorbs the cultural and political messaging of her environment, creating emotional distance between her and her parents.

Sofie and Jürgen's younger daughter. Born in Germany, she faces the difficult transition of moving to the United States as a child, where she struggles to connect with either American or German peers due to the complex social dynamics surrounding her family.

Sofie and Jürgen's youngest son. Because he was born while his father was separated from the family, he views Jürgen as a stranger upon their reunion in America, requiring time to build a paternal connection.

A friend of Sofie's in Berlin whose comfortable embrace of the era's rising prejudices creates a quiet rift between them. She easily rationalizes the aggressive politics of the time, providing Sofie with a firsthand look at how ordinary citizens accept injustice.

Lydia's husband and a colleague of Jürgen's. He is politically opportunistic and facilitates Jürgen's entry into government work building rockets, acting as a direct conduit for state pressure on the Rhodes family.

The son of Lydia and Karl, and Georg's childhood best friend. He reflects the beliefs instilled by his parents and the state, heavily influencing Georg's social development.

A fellow German immigrant living in Huntsville. She maintains a strict moral boundary and refuses to associate with the Rhodes family due to rumors regarding Jürgen's specific level of involvement in Germany.

An American local in Huntsville who initially appears friendly to Sofie, helping her learn to drive and prepare American lunches. She is heavily involved in the local social circles and participates in the community's gossip regarding the newcomers.

Jürgen's superior in the rocket development program. He is an entrenched figure who expects absolute loyalty to both the project and the state's ideology.

A close friend of Adele Rheinberg who assists in Adele's efforts to help marginalized people in Berlin.

Mayim's sixteen-year-old brother, whose departure highlights the escalating danger for Jewish families in Berlin.

A Texas farmer who battles the devastating environmental and economic impacts of the Dust Bowl. He tries to remain optimistic for his family but is overwhelmed by consecutive years of crop failure.

The emotional anchor of Lizzie's family during the Great Depression. She works to maintain hope in the household and teaches Lizzie that female strength is essential when the men around them falter.

Henry's girlfriend in Texas during his youth. Her father's position of power creates financial complications for Henry's family.

Betsy's father and a local authority figure in Texas who controls credit during the severe economic downturn, directly impacting the survival of the Miller family farm.