Characters in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Bruno (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas)

A naive nine-year-old German boy, son of the camp's commandant, who understands almost nothing of where his family has been sent.

Shmuel (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas)

A nine-year-old Jewish boy imprisoned in the camp, whom Bruno meets and befriends through the wire fence.

Lieutenant Kotler (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas)

An arrogant and cruel young SS officer stationed at the camp.

Ralf (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas)

Bruno's father, the SS Commandant given charge of the camp.

Elsa (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas)

Bruno's mother, at first devoted to her husband and increasingly horrified by what his posting means.

Gretel (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas)

Bruno's older sister, eager to impress Lieutenant Kotler and quick to absorb Nazi ideology.

Pavel (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas)

A former doctor and Jewish prisoner, made to work as a servant in the commandant's house.

Maria (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas)

The family's maid, who brought her own history with Bruno's father from Berlin.

Bruno Wisitzki

Shmuelin