Since a couple of readers told me they’d begun creating a Gassmann-Bunke family tree, I’ve put together a list of the main characters (minor characters are indented), with details about their relationships to other characters in the novel. Enjoy!
Ulrich Gassmann (b. 1880) – Gassmann family patriarch. Wife: Renate (Walter) Gassmann. Children: Ethel and Hans Gassmann. Parents: Detlef and Iris Gassmann. Step- mother: Claudia Gassmann. Brother: Erich Gassmann. Half-sisters: Inna and Monika Gassmann. Grandchildren: Marcus, Peter, and Lina Bunke.
Wolf Gassmann (d. 1882) – Son: Detlef Gassmann. Grandsons: Erich and Ulrich Gassmann
Detlef Gassmann (1854-1905) – Father: Wolf Gassmann, Sons: Ulrich and Erich Gassmann. First wife: Iris Gassmann. Second wife: Claudia Gassmann
Iris Gassmann (d. 1882) – Husband: Detlef Gassmann. Children: Erich and Ulrich Gassmann
Claudia Gassmann (d. 1919) – Husband: Detlef Gassmann. Step-sons: Erich and Ulrich Gassmann. Daughters: Inna and Monika Gassmann
Erich Gassmann (d. 1918) – Parents: Detlef and Iris Gassmann. Brother: Ulrich Gassmann. Half-sisters: Inna and Monika Gassmann.
Renate (Walter) Gassmann (b. 1880) – Gassmann family matriarch. Husband: Ulrich Gassmann. Children: Ethel and Hans Gassmann. Grandchildren: Marcus, Peter, and Lina Bunke. Sister: Lorena (Walter) Beyer. Brother: Ewald Walter
Ewald Walter – Sisters: Renate (Walter) Gassmann and Lorena (Walter) Beyer.
Lorena (Walter) Beyer – Sister: Renate (Walter) Gassmann. Brother: Ewald Walter. Husband: Stefan Beyer. Daughter: Brigitte
Hans Gassmann (b. 1901) – Parents: Ulrich and Renate Gassmann. Sister: Ethel Gassmann-Bunke.
Ethel (Gassmann) Bunke (b. 1904) – Parents: Ulrich and Renate. Brother: Hans Gassmann. Husband: Viktor Bunke. Children: Marcus, Peter, and Lina Bunke
Viktor Bunke (b. 1903) – Wife Ethel (Gassmann) Bunke. Children: Marcus, Peter, and Lina Bunke. Parents: Karl-Heinz and Gisela Bunke. Step-mother: Sabine Bunke. Sister: Hannelore Bunke. Half-brother: Walter Bunke.
Karl-Heinz Bunke (d. 1917) – Children: Viktor, Hannelore, and Walter Bunke. First wife: Gisela Bunke. Second wife: Sabine Bunke .
Gisela Bunke (d. 1906) – Husband: Karl-Heinz Bunke. Children: Viktor and Hannelore Bunke.
Sabine Bunke (b. 1887)– Husband: Karl-Heinz Bunke. Sister: Gisela Bunke. Step- children: Viktor Bunke, Hannelore Bunke. Son: Walter Bunke
Marcus Bunke (b. 1923) – Eldest child of Viktor and Ethel Bunke Peter Bunke (b. 1924)–Middle child of Viktor and Ethel Bunke (Edeline) Lina Bunke (1928)–Youngest child of Viktor and Ethel Bunke
Kristina Windel (b. 1923)– Refugee from East Prussia. Husband (deceased): Artur Windel Ingrid Windel (b. 1939)– Parents: Kristina and Artur Windel
Historical figures who appear in the novel:
Bruno Groening (1906-1959) – Spiritual Healer active in Post-WWII Germany
Egon Arthur Schmidt – Assistant to Bruno Groening
Sue Downing 