Fraulein

Fraulein

Year: 1958

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Henry Koster

WarRomance

ASK ANY G.I. ABOUT fraulein (pronounced Frol-line…it means girl…good or bad!) A Nazi’s fiancee helps an escaped U.S. soldier, then meets him in postwar Berlin.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Fraulein (1958)

Trace every key event in Fraulein (1958) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

MacLain escapes and hides in Cologne

Foster MacLain, an American prisoner of war, escapes in Cologne near the war’s end and seeks shelter with Professor Julius Angermann. Angermann hides him from German soldiers pursuing him. The fragile shelter sets off a tense dynamic between an American fugitive and a hesitant German intellectual.

Late WWII (1945) Cologne, at Angermann's house
2

Erika initially resists but hides the prisoner

Angermann’s daughter Erika is wary of the American fugitive and not welcoming. Nonetheless she hides MacLain from the soldiers as danger closes in. The shelter reveals a clash of loyalties between personal risk and moral duty.

Late WWII (1945) Cologne, Angermann's house
3

A bombing ends the professor's life

A bomb strikes Angermann’s house, killing the professor and leaving Erika and MacLain to face a new danger. The attack forces Erika to flee and reconfigure her loyalties. The tragedy also removes a crucial ally from MacLain’s side.

Shortly after the sheltering Cologne
4

Erika relocates to Berlin with Karl

Erika travels to Berlin to live with her cousin Karl after the bombing. In the city, Karl’s lodgers, the Graubachs, reveal themselves as fervent Nazis. Erika’s safety becomes precarious as political tensions rise.

Post-bombing, during the late war period Berlin
5

The Graubachs reveal as threats

Karl’s tenants Fritz and Berta Graubach, outspoken Nazi supporters living with Karl, become a looming threat to Erika. Their unwavering ideology pushes Erika into greater danger as Berlin’s loyalties shift. Erika’s safety hangs on the precarious front lines of the city.

During Erika's stay in Berlin Berlin
6

Erika is pursued during the Soviet takeover

As Soviet forces close in on Berlin, Erika hides in the attic to avoid rape and persecution. Berta betrays Erika to protect herself, prompting a drunken corporal to ascend the stairs and threaten her. Karl is killed while trying to stop him, and Erika is forced onto the roof where a Russian soldier pursues her, only to fall to his death.

During the Red Army’s siege of Berlin Berlin
7

Brikett saves Erika

Colonel Dmitri Brikett is attracted to Erika and saves her life, though his insistence on a sexual reward complicates their relationship. Erika survives the encounter and continues to navigate the dangerous city. The encounter shifts dynamics and foreshadows future aid from unexpected quarters.

During Soviet occupation Berlin
8

Erika escapes to the American sector

Erika escapes to the American-controlled sector of the city with the help of Lori, a nightclub pianist. In the new zone, she faces new temptations and dangers as she searches for safety. The escape marks a turning point in her situation and introduces the possibility of help from the Americans.

After escape with Brikett’s aid Berlin -> American sector
9

Graubachs reveal themselves as brokers of danger

In the American sector, the Graubachs reappear, now claiming to oppose the Nazis but actually running a brothel. They press Erika to stay with them as an employee, and she flees when their true intent becomes clear. They register her as a prostitute with the American authorities, and a kindly Corporal Hanks intervenes to block them.

Post-escape, in American-controlled zone American sector, Berlin
10

MacLain finds Erika in a nightclub

MacLain uses his wartime networks to locate Erika, who is working in a nightclub. He offers to help her and asks Erika to meet her fiancé Hugo. The emotional reunion complicates his own feelings as she harbors hope for a future.

Following Erika’s relocation Nightclub in the American sector
11

Erika reconnects with Hugo, who has changed

Erika finds Hugo, now a crippled war veteran living in a makeshift shelter with another woman. He is embittered and resentful about Erika's relationship with an American. He asks for the engagement ring to buy an artificial arm, and Erika gives it to him and leaves.

Post-war period Hugo’s shelter
12

Love and plans for the future

As MacLain spends time with Erika, he falls in love and proposes marriage. Erika accepts and envisions a life in the United States with him. They face the looming obstacle of her immigration, which hinges on her ability to clear her record.

After Hugo episode Nightclub/Erika’s current location
13

Hanks clears the way for a new life

Erika discovers she would be denied a passport due to her prior registration as a prostitute. In a pivotal moment, Corporal Hanks, the same officer who processed her papers earlier, erases her occupation and issues the necessary documents. Erika can finally start her new life in the United States with MacLain.

Passport processing moment American sector

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 09:42

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Fraulein

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