Golo Thomsen
Golo is the novel's main narrator and an SS officer whose uncle is a high-ranking Nazi official. His position in the hierarchy gives him certain privileges and, initially, a degree of detachment from the horrors of the camp. However, as the story progresses, Golo transforms. He begins questioning the Nazi regime and its ideologies, making him an unusual figure within the camp's administration. His attraction to Hannah Doll further deepens his inner conflict and his struggle with the banality of evil. Golo's character explores the complexities of individual morality under a totalitarian regime, emphasizing that even those involved in heinous actions are not always devoid of humanity.
Paul Doll
Paul is the Commandant of Auschwitz and one of the book's narrators. His character is a mix of absurdity and horror, serving as a grotesque symbol of the Nazi regime's heartlessness and delusion. Despite his pleasant demeanor and attempts to present the camp as a well-oiled machine, Paul is a deeply disturbed man, trapped in a loveless marriage and haunted by his role in the mass murder. Paul's character provides a disturbing lens into the minds of those who participated in the Holocaust, showcasing the mental gymnastics they performed to justify their actions and the effects of this cognitive dissonance on their psyche.
Hannah Doll
Hannah is the wife of Paul Doll and the object of desire for both Paul and Golo Thomsen. Her character represents the many Germans who were wilfully ignorant or in denial about the atrocities committed in the name of their country. Hannah mostly ignores her husband's work, focusing on her domestic life and personal grievances. However, as the novel progresses, she begins to sense the horrors surrounding her. Despite her initial ignorance, Hannah is portrayed as fundamentally decent, showing empathy towards the prisoners and discomfort at her husband's cruelty. Her character illustrates the moral ambiguities and personal conflicts experienced by those living on the periphery of the Holocaust.
Szmul
Szmul is a Jewish prisoner who is part of the Sonderkommando, a group of prisoners forced to assist in the disposal of gas chamber victims. His first-person narrative provides a harrowing look into the experiences of Holocaust victims. As a member of the Sonderkommando, Szmul is caught in a devastating moral dilemma: to survive, he must contribute to the slaughter of his people. His character offers a heartbreaking exploration of the psychological toll of such a burden. Szmul symbolizes the many victims who were compelled into unimaginable moral compromises to survive and the guilt and despair associated with their forced complicity.
Boris Eltz
Boris Eltz is a high-ranking SS officer and a friend of Golo Thomsen's. He appears to be a firm believer in Nazi ideology and is indifferent to the suffering of the prisoners. Eltz's character starkly contrasts Golo's moral awakening, serving as a chilling representation of the true believers within the Nazi regime. His seemingly casual acceptance of the genocide further highlights the normalized brutality of the regime and the systematic dehumanization of its victims.
Ilse Grese
Ilse Grese is a historically infamous figure known as the "Hyena of Auschwitz." In the novel, she is depicted as a camp guard who takes sadistic pleasure in the suffering of the prisoners. Her character embodies the extreme cruelty and inhumanity that can flourish under totalitarian regimes. Grese's unapologetic sadism underscores the novel's exploration of the depths of human depravity and the perversion of power.
