Homecoming

A physician in a town crowded by political hostility, he becomes a vocal advocate for minority rights and protests to the mayor. His actions highlight the clash between constitutional guarantees and real-world oppression. As tensions escalate, he is targeted and blinded in a brutal attack, underscoring the human cost of ethnic conflict.

Marie is Dr. Thomas's daughter and a German schoolteacher who resists the pressure of assimilation. She supports her fiancé and pursues avenues to address the injustices they face, including seeking help for those in need. She remains hopeful and steadfast, encouraging others to endure the looming threat.

Marie's fiancé, a physician who stands with the minority community against oppressive currents. He is attacked by a furious crowd for refusing to sing the Polish anthem, illustrating the dangers of dissent in a charged atmosphere.His grave injuries and eventual death intensify the community's resolve to seek safety and justice.

Marie's friend who is pressed into service by the Polish Army and accompanies the group through tense circumstances. He embodies how ordinary civilians become entwined in political upheaval. His presence emphasizes the fragility of everyday life under occupation.

An innkeeper whose family life is shattered when his wife, Martha, is struck down during violence. He later becomes a hopeful suitor, seeking solace and continuity in a community torn apart by conflict. His resilience reflects the strain on traditional local leadership during wartime upheaval.

Wife of Ludwig Launhardt, she embodies the civilian casualties of ethnic conflict. Her death underscores the indiscriminate cruelty of mob violence. Her memory reinforces the stakes of the community's struggle to survive and rebuild.

A villager who experiences the pressure of war and persecution within the community. He witnesses the crackdown on dissent and the shifting loyalties as events unfold. His perspective helps show the broader social impact of the crisis.

A member of the local Manz family who stands amid the social changes around him. His role highlights the personal and family-level strains that accompany wartime upheaval. He contributes to the tapestry of village life disrupted by conquest and fear.

A local figure whose actions illustrate the ways in which ordinary people navigate and respond to the invading and occupying forces. His presence adds to the network of relationships that define the community under strain.