First Comes Courage

Nicole is a resistance operative who uses a forged romance with Major Dichter to gather crucial intelligence for the British. She balances danger and emotion to protect the network, showing pragmatism and courage under pressure. Her ultimate decision reflects a tough, committed stance toward the cause while wrestling with personal loyalties.

Dichter is the district’s Nazi commandant, ambitious and status-conscious, who aims to preserve his career through control and marriage. He suspects Nicole’s loyalty but uses the engagement to solidify his own position. His eventual confrontation with Allan seals his downfall.

Allan is a British officer and Nicole’s former lover who volunteers for a pre-raid mission to arrange Dichter’s assassination. He demonstrates resolve and resourcefulness, aiding Nicole’s escape and ultimately killing Dichter. His actions carry the weight of personal history and wartime duty.

Ole is a Norwegian commando based in England who lands with Allan. Loyal and brave, he is killed during the mission after being betrayed by Thorsten. His sacrifice highlights the personal costs borne by resistance fighters.

Thorsten is Ole’s cousin whose betrayal leads to the capture of the team. His actions illustrate the fragile loyalties within occupied territories and the peril posed by local informants.

Aanrud is the optometrist who quietly supports the resistance by concealing messages on eyeglasses. His role as a conduit for intelligence helps maintain the network’s secrecy and connects the civilian with the resistance’s operations.

Von Elser is the Nazi colonel pressing Dichter to root out leaks and maintain discipline. He aggressively pursues Nicole’s supposed betrayal and serves as a looming, calculating threat throughout the operation.

Rose is a nurse who assists in Allan’s escape and provides quiet support to Nicole and the resistance. Her steadiness and compassion help hold together the fragile threads of resistance under extreme stress.

Nurse Griffies represents the civilian medical front that aids wounded resistance members. While not a central figure, her presence underscores the constant human cost and the care networks that sustain covert operations.