The Aftermath (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

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1. 1

   Arrival in the ruins of Hamburg

   Rachael Morgan arrives in the shattered city of Hamburg during the bitter German winter to be reunited with her husband, Lewis Morgan, a British colonel tasked with rebuilding the city. She confronts the devastation and the risk that lingers in a postwar landscape, while already grieving for their son Michael who was killed during the Blitz. The cold welcome sets a tense, uneasy tone for their reunion.

   When

   Winter 1945

   Where

   Hamburg, Germany

2. 2

   Requisitioned house and attic arrangement

   The Morgans take up residence in the requisitioned house of architect Stefan Lubert, with Stefan and his daughter Freda living in the attic. Rachael is unhappy about sharing space with Germans, and her resentment colors every interaction in the cramped, tense home. The attic arrangement becomes a constant reminder of the fragile truce between occupier and occupied.

   When

   Early postwar 1945

   Where

   Stefan Lubert's house, Hamburg

3. 3

   Rachael's hostility toward Stefan

   Rachael's hatred of Germans colors her interactions, and she is deliberately rude to Stefan. Her resentment strains the fragile domestic arrangement and heightens the tension in the house. The friction foreshadows the deeper complications to come.

   When

   Early postwar 1945

   Where

   Stefan Lubert's house, Hamburg

4. 4

   Freda's romance with Bertie

   Freda Lubert becomes romantically involved with Bertie, a young Werwolf activist, creating a dangerous undercurrent within the household. The affair introduces potential dissident ties and future violence into the already fragile living situation. The relationship threads through the shifting loyalties around the house.

   When

   Early postwar 1945

   Where

   Stefan Lubert's house, Hamburg

5. 5

   Bonding with Stefan; affair begins

   Rachael and Stefan form a bond over their shared grief—Stefan's wife was killed by Allied bombing—and they begin an affair. The emotional connection deepens the sense of betrayal and complicates loyalties within the household. The relationship adds another layer of tension to the already volatile situation.

   When

   Shortly after arrival

   Where

   Stefan Lubert's house, Hamburg

6. 6

   Suspicion of Werwolf membership

   British Forces Germany begin to suspect Stefan of Werwolf membership, though the real links lie with Bertie. This suspicion heightens paranoia and puts Stefan under pressure, complicating his standing with both the occupiers and his hosts. The tension around loyalty and safety intensifies as rumors swirl.

   When

   Mid postwar 1945

   Where

   Hamburg, around Stefan Lubert's circle

7. 7

   Lewis realizes the affair

   Lewis discovers the affair when he learns of Rachael's advocacy for Stefan to receive his Persilschein. The revelation forces a painful reckoning and sets up an inevitable confrontation between spouses. The knowledge undercuts trust and accelerates the relationship's breakdown.

   When

   Later postwar 1945

   Where

   Lewis and Rachael's home, Hamburg

8. 8

   The confrontation

   Lewis confronts Rachael, and she admits the affair, telling him she plans to leave him to be with Stefan. The couple's fragile bond fractures as both feel betrayed and trapped by circumstance. The confrontation marks a decisive rupture in their marriage.

   When

   Following the realization

   Where

   Lewis and Rachael's home, Hamburg

9. 9

   Bertie's failed assassination attempt and death

   Bertie tries to assassinate Lewis but misses and kills Lewis's batman in the process. He flees across a frozen river but falls through the ice and dies, removing a dangerous variable from the volatile equation. The violent escape underscores the reach of Werwolf influence and the cost of the conflict.

   When

   Shortly after the confrontation

   Where

   Near a frozen river outside Hamburg

10. 10

    Lewis tells Rachael to leave next morning

    In the aftermath of Bertie's act, Lewis, still grieving Michael, tells Rachael to leave the house the next morning. His demand signals a formal separation and a desire to end the destructive pattern between them. The moment emphasizes the emotional toll of war on intimate relationships.

    When

    The following morning

    Where

    Lewis and Rachael's home, Hamburg

11. 11

    Reconciliation through shared grief

    That night, Lewis opens up about his lingering grief over Michael and Rachael responds with a quiet hug, acknowledging their shared pain. The moment introduces a fragile possibility of reconciliation amid a world ravaged by war. It hints at a potential rebuilding of trust despite recent betrayals.

    When

    Night of the same day as the departure discussion

    Where

    Lewis and Rachael's home, Hamburg

12. 12

    Railway station decision

    Rachael accompanies Stefan and Freda to the railway station, but ultimately chooses to stay with Lewis rather than leaving with Stefan. The decision closes the domestic arc with a renewed bond between Rachael and Lewis in a city still reeling from war. Their commitment endures despite the wreckage around them.

    When

    Final act

    Where

    Hamburg railway station